Upgrade waitlisting
 

A quick question: Is there a way to check and see how many people are ahead of me for an upgrade? I know this can change by the minute, but it would be nice to know....

[This message has been edited by boomerang-boy (edited 09-11-2002).]

None that I know of other than to keep asking.

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danville 1K

Do CSR's have access to detailed information about the upgrade list? They have always told me that they can see how many people are on the list, but nothing more.

My experience has been there are two kinds of gate agents: Those who are happy to check when they have a moment and those who **** near refuse to tell you anything about the list, guarding it like a State secret. The latter are very frustrating; they may (!) be well-intentioned, not wanting you to draw conclusions based on changing information, but they should leave that to us - let us decide for ourselves whether to board or not while refraining from blaming them if we are pushed down the list by someone with higher priority after thinking we were going to make it.

Okay.....I admit it, this is a pet peeve - but if anyone knows a way to check the list without bothering the agent, I'm game.

Personally I like the system they have at ORD, where the sign behind the podium tells which passengers have a shot at an upgrade. That way you don't have to bother the CSR.

And yes, many of them get testy if asked too often. On the other hand I can understand their frustration. It's probably like traveling with kids, and the constant "are we there yet?" question.

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danville 1K

[This message has been edited by danville 1K (edited 09-11-2002).]

I just experienced this "system" at SFO last Thu. On the information screens behind the gate desk (left-side screen, at the bottom), it says something like, "will passengers with seat assignments 10H, 30D, 11C please wait to board as your upgrade is pending." I noticed that, as time went by, 11C dropped off the screen, then 30D dropped off the screen, leaving just me in 10H. I was the only one who got an upgrade (at the gate, from that original list of three anyway). So I'm not sure if the priority on the screen matches the waitlist priority, as it did in my case.

I was just in the middle of posting the same observation and question. I was on the behind-podium monitor only once (also at SFO), and as you mentioned, noticed that the upgrade possibilities started dropping off the end of the list. So I would guess that the list is ordered by DM rank.

In all my years with United only in Honolulu
did they do a great job.These exceptional agents kept every 1k and PE fully informed every step of the way with clear helpful announcements.
No one had to approach the check in desk by the gate if they were already on the wait list............
Otherwise it runs from orgainized chaos to satisfactory at best........

My experience has been the first seat shown on the screen is the first on the upgrade list, and the list works down from there.



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danville 1K

I'm actually not very fond of those systems. I much more prefer the ones Delta is installing at many of their major aiports. Not only do they display the first three letters of the last names of those on standby and upgrade lists, but it shows the priority on the list and when you clear the list. Compared to DL's, I find UA's highly inferior.

There is one Asian gate agent in SFO who seems to invariably be working my flights to HNL. IME, he does a very good job in communicating this information also.

Last time I was enquiring about upgrades at an airport, SFO, the guy at the desk told me something like "there are 6 1K's ahead of you and 8 seats remaining" or something like that, so the information is definitely available if they choose to give it out. (And, yes, I did get my SFO-MIA upgrade on that flight.)

My sense is that a lot of agents have been burned by folks who don't understand (or don't want to understand) that upgrade list position is a dynamic thing that can go down if a higher status flyer shows up. I have seen folks throw hissy fits because they had checked in very early and "told" they were first on the list and then a few 1Ks appeared and got ahead of them. As with many such things, after being screamed at a few times the agent's respons is sometimes to stop sharing the info. If I ask, I usually make it clear that I understand that the position can change but just want to know where I stand at the moment.

Personally, it seems unfair to me that 1K's/1P's should be able to request an upgrade on a whim and bounce somebody who has been waiting for weeks.

It would be a much more fair system if the list became time-based at, say 4 hours prior to departure. Only a walk-up full fare should be able to move ahead in line at that point.

I agree; as a 1P it's utterly unfair when 1Ks jump in front of me. The nerve!

OTOH, it's completely fair when I get to bump 2Ps down myself. Those lowly Premiers should try flying more http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif