Using SWU on multi-segment
 

I'm using a SWU from SEA to SFO to HKG.
1st segment (SEA to SFO) is showing F0.
Can the SFO-HKG upgrade clear even though 1st segment won't? Or should I change the SWU to only apply for SFO-HKG?
Thanks.

First of all, where have you been hiding......1st post with a 2005 join date!

Did you book this as separate segments or as a connecting flight?

You can go ahead and apply the SWU for all segments, providing there is no stopover > 12 hours along the way.

Each segments upgrades/clears independently. So, you may or may not get the SEA-SFO upgrade and may or may not get the SFO -HKG upgrade.

However, if the SEA-SFO segments upgrades (using the SWU) but the SFO-HKG segment does not, then you have used a SWU for just a SEA-SFO segment.

Hope this explains what you asked.

Billy

I have this issue when I fly SYD-SFO-LAX return or similar. I always CALL IN to res and ask them to apply SWU only to INTL leg and then I wait. If the INTL leg clears, I ask them to apply to domestic leg. I would hate to waste a SWU on a domestic (unless, like last year, the darn things wouldnt clear, so I did throw them on mid cons and trans cons for friends and relatives) :D.

Take SWU, ask for UDU
 

I had this situation when I was returning from NRT to DCA va ORD. The ORD/DCA leg cleared immediately upon booking. I called 1K and had it taken off and asked to go on the UDU list. As it turns out, I cleared the NRT to ORD leg, but then the flight was late and I had to take a different ord to dca flight. It was full and I could not get upgraded, but it was only 1.5 hours. I'd rather have that situation than one where it cleared, the international segment did not and I would have wasted a UDU.

The 1K agent was not sure how to do this and he had to go to a supervisor, but I would call them.

Welcome to FT, fmliu!

It depends. If you booked this as a "direct" flight, you have no choice - you have to request for the entire trip. and it will clear (or not) as a unit. However, if the segments are booked separately, you should definitely only request the SWU for the long segment. If/when that clears, you can add the domestic segment.

UA869 is DEN-SFO-HKG-SGN so this should not be a problem.

There is no direct flight from SEA to SFO to HKG . The only flight flight from SFO to HKG is UA869. Direct flight booking is an non issue for OP and may be just confusing the situation.

Back to the OP
in your case, yes

Is the SFO to HKG showing NC>0?? (NC is the upgrade inventory -- empty seats at this time in C is no guarantee of upgrading)

This is usually the prudent thing to do and once the longer flight has cleared ask for the SWU to be extended to the shorter flight.

I would say always.