I agree that it probably is better for a SE to try the mutiple OLCI thing and get high on the list if you're GE/PE. However, I still am not convinced that there is another EUA computer run less than 24 hours - even despite someone from NWA saying so. How many problems were there when NWA WP people said one thing with the double miles promo and many still didn't get it. Unless I hear the programmer say so I'm likely to stay skeptical.

That being said, I've only had one BF UG as a SE - so yeah seems like the best thing is to try the multiple OLCI method. So that comes to the big question:

What are the best times to multiple OLCI? 23:59, then 15:59? 13:59? In other words, when does NW's computers release the seats within 24 hours?

I agree that getting on the FC waitlist as #1 at 23:59:59 is our best bet for a battlefield UG, but there's no concensus whether you can get there by attempting OLCI, pressing the "Do you wish to UG" button, and then aborting OLCI, or fully completing OLCI.

I think I'll roll the dice based upon what I've read on FT and the advice I received from the NW WP CSR. She did tell me she just completed a class on this - I'm assuming internal NW training - and adamantly recommended against checking in at the 24 hour mark. She told me I'd miss the release of seats after that time when I may get swept by EUA.

So, in the interest of "second-guessing" both what we have read here and the CSR's advice, my game plan is to go into OLCI, press the infamous "Duh" button, and then abort the check-in. The assumption here is pressing the button gets me on the FC standby list, yet waiting to complete check-in at the airport kiosk allows for the chance of a late EUA sweep.

Either this will turn out to be the best of both options, or, well.... you know the saying about ASSuming anything. If I don't get the UG on the SAN flight, I'll reluctantly head to my corner in economy. :confused:

Northwest First Class Upgrade Status Email
 

I am interested in how the Northwest FC Upgrade Email figures into this formula. This I believe is one way you can end up on the airport upgrade list ( also possible by OLCI ). Once you receive this email is it safe to checkin via the web?



Northwest is pleased to provide the status of your complimentary
WorldPerks Elite First Class upgrades on Northwest flights.

Flight: NW xxx
From: xxxxxxx
To: xxxx
Departure Date: June 19
First Class Upgrade Status: First class full. Added to standby list.

As a NWA Silver (Gold next year!), I get UGs about 50% of the time. I use OLCI at the 24 hour mark. If I get waitlisted, my seat never changes until I get to the gate and ask. I know this b/c I often checkin at the hotel, where there is no printer, so have to re-print at the airport.

However, on Continental, often my upgrade comes thru AFTER I use OLCI, and when I re-print at the airport I am delighted to find my new FC seat. Are the NWA procedures different in this regard, or have I just never been lucky?

>>>>>>However, on Continental, often my upgrade comes thru AFTER I use OLCI, and when I re-print at the airport I am delighted to find my new FC seat. Are the NWA procedures different in this regard, or have I just never been lucky?

I've never had a NW upgrade show up as processed after OLCI. I've had a couple made-in-the-shade upgrade prospects lately (the flight is actually WIDE open in F, but EUA was programmed to be especially stingy) and my F boarding pass is printed and waiting at the counter when I get there one hour in advance (completely predictable--practically guaranteed) but the res always continued to show the coach class confirmation up to two hours prior to flight time (when checked online).

This is more of my completely unscientific evidence, but here it goes. I flew SEA-MSP-BOS today, got the EUA for MSP-BOS last week, so I did OLCI as early as I could wake up Sunday (7:30am, flight was at 7am today). I did a phantom booking and saw 4 open seats pretty much all weekend. I know this means squat to most people, but to me it suggests there will be one or two battlefields available.

This morning I got to the gate and I was #2 and they had a F boarding pass for me. I asked and they didnt think they were going to have room to upgrade anyone else. There were other Plats on the list below me, which is interesting considering some of what I have heard here about fare potentially playing a role in the upgrade process. I think fare might play a role in EUA, but it seems likely to me that battlefield goes purely by OLCI time. There is slim to no chance that another Plat had an equal or lower fare than the fare I was on.

This is the third week in a row where I have either nabbed #1 or #2 on the waitlist at OLCI for one of my legs. I have no idea whether EUA ran again on Sunday after I checked in, I just am not going to mess with that when I consistently get the battlefield from being high on the waitlist by doing an early OLCI.

I think you're on to something when there a few open seats in FC left. I'm going to eat my words now, but looking at my DTW-SAN flight next Sunday with a phantom booking this evening. After pulling up the seatmap, only two seats still left open. Yes, I know it's very likely some of the bulkhead seats are still available - probably the window vs. aisle - but I think the availability has dropped from six open last night to four or less now that the Plat EUA has run.

Considering the small number of seats left, I figure that if the Gold EUA window comes and goes with no UG and the number of open seats unchanged, it's pretty much a battlefield or nothing. So, I'll likely just OLCI at 23:59:59 or thereabouts on Saturday afternoon.

Man, ain't this like Vegas?

My past experience seems to suggest this is not accurate; my wife and I were once upgraded to different rows in F thru EUA while on the same PNR.

I have had upgrades show up on NWA.COM after OLCI
 

Just wanted to let you know that at least twice I have seen my upgrade come through following OLCI the previous day into a coach seat. It was quite a surprise the first time it happened. I can't recall whether I was then able to print the new and improved boarding pass or not.

Based on my most recent experiences, I am now 100% convinced of the following:

1. The OLCI system has greater access to additional upgrade inventory than is available even to the NWA phone/airport agents;

2. The OLCI system can make instant determinations on upgrading based on the fare paid and Elite status, even if a waitlist with higher-level Elites is already in effect for the flight;

3. Timing makes a difference in OLCI - checking in too early can result in being placed on a waitlist while checking in online less than 6 hours before the flight might net the upgrade right away.

NW vs. KL and other Skyteam partners
 

I am a Platinum Elite on AF KLM's program Flying Blue.

Do we know if the NW algorithms first process all Worldperks members and then the Skyteam partners or are all Platinum's, etc. processed together?

AFAIK, both the CO and NW EUA systems favor native Elites over partner Elites within the same tier. All other factors being equal, a Q fare CO Platinum should get the last upgrade seat over a Q fare NW Platinum when flying CO, and vice versa when the flight is operated by NW.

FWIW, CO does an EUA sweep three hours prior to departure. I bet NW does as well and that that explains some of the behaviour you are seeing. On CO, OLCI seems to have no effect whatsoever on whether you're upgraded afterwards by EUA or at the gate. CO, however, definitely orders gate/battlefield upgrades by elite status and fare class with checkin time only used as afterwards tie breaker.

Any idea why on a 4 segment flight the last three but not the first segment are upgraded 5 days out even when all four flights show all nines in F?