Originally Posted by channa (Post 19311768)

I don't think the phone agents can even authoritatively tell you that you're on the list. They can tell you you meet the criteria for upgrades (e.g., you're an Elite, you're on a revenue ticket, your Elite status shows, it looks good). But they can't tell you with certainty that EUA will see you at the next sweep.

Originally Posted by CNJMichael (Post 19313125)

IME, the agent can tell you that you're on the list in some situations. I've been waitlisted for mileage upgrades from Y class and when I called two days ago, she confirmed how many people were on the list, but there was no indication of priority. She told me she could only see the waitlist alphabetically by last name. Sounded like she had to manually count the names though to tell me how many on the waitlist for each flight.

Originally Posted by bmvaughn (Post 19313998)

Publishing a waitlist, then when you move down a spot specifically telling you why would be a boon.

You are now 9th. You were 8th but HAL/R, a 1K, joined the list at 4th as they have an E fare and you have a K fare.

Really not that tough to track/report. And it would end calls to customer service to explain why.

Originally Posted by johnden (Post 19311973)

I for one would like to see the waitlist for transparency sake. The quickest way to quell a conspiracy theory is to be honest and open.

For example, today I saw something happen with the waitlist for UA 976 IAD-DXB on Sept 15 that makes me uncomfortable.

As of Sept 12 - 777 new configuration(40 BF, 8 GF) - A3 F3 C3 D1 Z1

As of Sept 13 9am - 777 old configuration(49 BF, 12 GF) - flight status reported 4 GF and 39 BF seats sold

As of Sept 13 4pm - 777 old configuration - flight status reported 5 GF sold, 4 GF blocked and BF as full.

How did UA manage to fill/sell/upgrade 10 BF seats in a few hours? The BF waitlist for this flight is rarely longer than 5-6 people, sometimes 10. I'm a bit baffled as to how an 11 seats became 0 and I nor my companion got upgraded? We also got moved from an aisle and window to middle seats on the equipment change.

My reservation still lists the waitlist with the new seats. What could have happened? I'd feel much better if I could see the waitlist.

Originally Posted by star_world (Post 19314070)

Too much information, IMO. You've been moved down the list because someone with a higher status level and/or fare class is now on the list. That's always the reason, so why the need to call out who the individual is? Just post this on the list itself. The upgrade list should never refer to anyone's status, IMO.

Originally Posted by aacharya (Post 19314306)

Too much information is also dangerous, agreed.

Originally Posted by channa (Post 19314348)

In that regard, I've never understood why they publish the full standby on the website anyway.

You don't need to know everyone's initials. You just need to know you're #6 of 14 for 3 open seats.

Originally Posted by emcampbe (Post 19312153)

Ten replies so far, and no one has suggested the obvious: They don't want you knowing where you are on the list before you check in. If you "need" to be in a premium class, and knew you were at/near the top of the waitlist, would you pay for the seat instead? If you have no idea, you are more inclined to pay for it. It helps to sell F seats.

Originally Posted by pdx1M (Post 19314414)

But then they'd need a way for you to query a name so that you could see your traveling companion and all us IT folks know how challenging implementing a query can be. ;)

Originally Posted by Centurion (Post 19311811)

You forgot the fact that employees depending on their union contract can knock someone out with positive space and even some Non Revs can bump people + Air Marshalls. More than enough reasons to not publish a list until gate