All UA reservations agents can see the list (or at least should be able to if they know how) and they can see where you are by position (since the lists are sorted by time added).

However, many agents will not give this information to a customer in the interests of not setting unreal expectations (you're #2 as a 1P but then it goes to DM at the airport and four UGS and 1Ks auto-trump you) or having 1Ks complain about being behind 1Ps because they do not understand how the list is sorted and processed.

SEA_Tigger,

I will take as gospel the fact that the PA waitlist is worked as First On and First Off. As such, I find it really odd that in the case of someone with no status but with a supporting SWU should be cleared before a 1K on a SWU just because the no-status person was added to the list first. But this is probably a philosophical debate for another thread.

Secondly as a follow-up question, When the res agent views the PA waitlist in advance, are we absolutely sure that that agent's display is ordered by priority on the waitlist and not alphabetical by last name? Twice agents(who have seen the list) have told me it is not priority but alpha by last name.

thanks!!!

ozstamp's 1P companion cleared the waitlist just before he did (as a 1K) when using SWUs. I have had companion non-status members clear the PB with miles before myself. And a few other folks have noted that their partners (with no status) have cleared before them.


I cannot answer that as I have not yet seen a DM waitlist screen. At LHR I was told I was third when I checked-in, I was told I was fifth at the RCC, and tenth at the gate. Yet I was the only person paged to get a BP and they announced the cabin had checked-in full afterwards.

Now, my last name starts with a "W", so I may have been the highest ranked elite (1P) and fared (H) person on the waitlist, but my last name put me at the bottom when ranked by name...

Since the list clears FIFO then date/time added must be in the database somewhere. Based on all the posts I recall on this subject, and there have been dozens, it seems like the list is default-displayed as alpha/last name. However, my TA has inquired on my behalf several times, and her most recent response was...


"Hi transpac
There's 5 people on waitlist, you're on No.2, business class cabin capacity
: 73,
now 24 seats book."

which leads me to believe that one's exact position on the PA waitlist can be determined.

just to add my recent experience. i'm on the w/l using cr1's for sfo-bos/bos-den with the den-sfo final leg having cleared at booking.

i called yesterday to ask and was told the following:

res: there's 3 seats left and 6 on the list and i see that you have a star next to your name.

me: could it be that the star denotes a 1k?

res: i don't know but 2 others on the list have a star, let me look at them and the others without stars....<pause>....yup that's it-the 3 of you with stars are 1k's and the others are not.

i didn't ask where on the list i was as i didn't want to get the agent in any sort of trouble but perhaps the waitlist "can be looked at in detail".