Could someone please tell me how NW prioritize First class and coach standby lists? Do they go by first come,first on list, does elite status matter, or what are the factors that determine who is number one and number 2 for the F/C seats? I had two flights this past weekend I stood by for and was denied both times....I didn't even get into coach and I am Plat so I am curious. Thanks for your help.

Sorry, this is not a straightforward answer to your question but I had three operational upgrades with NW in the past three years or so. The last one was in May on TPE-NRT. I was booked in V (very discounted fare) and it was the final day of a string of early May holidays in Japan. Thus, many travelers going back home and the NW9 was oversold in the economy.

I am a Platinum elite and when I checked in -- it was about 2 hours before the departure -- the agent told me that I may well be upgraded at the gate. But as she processed my boarding, she said, ''Oh, you are already upgraded.'' So I got a business class boarding pass at the check-in counter.

On another occasion in April, I checked in and got my economy class boarding pass. It was NRT-SIN.

I went into Akane, one of the three NW lounges, and hooked to the Internet and checked on the NW site my reservation for the flight I was going to take. I typed in my PNR reference number and it showed that I am in the business class for the flight. Well, I just guessed it was operational upgrade and so it was. My boarding pass didn't go through at the gate and the agent rechecked it and gave me a new boarding pass for a business class seat.

I find that their travel itinery function quite interesting -- real-time.

It will be interesting to see the responses to this thread as this is, IMHO, one of the great mysteries of the airline business.

In my experience, if you don't have a reservation on a flight, elite status won't help much in getting priority on the waitlist. Bumped or delayed pax from other flights and full-fare customers seem to get on the plane first. On the other hand, if you DO have a reservation on a flight, elite status seems to be the most important thing when it comes to FC upgrades.

Well, here goes my jump into the action.
My comments are not official, but are based upon discussions with EliteLine folks, gate people and WorldClubs personnel.
I think the most important factors are:
1-Elite status
2-$ paid for your ticket
3-Date of purchase - the earlier the better
4-When you show up & ask to be put on the waiting list.

I know that there have been instances when I've been denied an advance upgrade, have gone to the gate & been told there are 10 people already on the list for 4 1class seats, and guess what - my Gold status puts me at the top of the list, obviously ahead of Silvers who are seeking day of flite upgrade.

Also, when going coach standby, my Gold status seems to put me at the top of the standby list, even if 10 others are already there first.

As best as I can tell on NWA only Platinums seem to go ahead of us Golds.

So how do CO Elites work into the mix? Apparently NW can't see CO elite status in their computers, but just "Premium" meaning some elite status is held.

I wonder, then, if it goes NW Plat, NW Gold, NW Silver, then CO all elite, then the rest? Or NW Plat, CO Plat, NW Gold, CO Gold, etc.

I've heard of a hierachy very similar to what "knowitall" descibed above, except perhaps numbers 3 and 4 are/were reversed.

And last December, as a Gold, I could not clear for FC, even as I watched at the desk as Silver Elites had their BP's issued ahead of me!

As I happily noted, there were actually many free FC seats to be seen upon boarding and a last minute upgrade was done for me and another 4 people!