Yet Another Waitlist Question!
 

I hope you can bear another waitlist question. But, being my first year as a 1K, this is my first intl. waitlist (got lucky on last two flights to SYD...got upgrades both times at booking).

I’m flying SNA-SFO-NRT-BKK next Wed., 11/16. Returning BKK-NRT-LAX-SNA on Tues., 11/22. Got the SNA-SFO upgrade at booking, waitlist came thru a few days ago on the NRT-LAX return. But still waiting on SFO-NRT and NRT-BKK on the outbound, and BKK-NRT on the return.

Yes, I’ve already done several searches, and have found out some good info:
1. Odds are better on transpac to/from NRT flights.
2. Much better odds flying mid-week (when I’ll be flying) than on weekends.
3. These flights have a relatively high rate of last minute premium fare bookings.
4. UA seems to be doing more last-minute upgrading this year.

Still, perhaps some savvy travelers who fly this route frequently can fill in some additional details...specifically:
1. These flights seem to be fairly wide open in the C cabin…approx. 50 C seats still available on the transpac segments, 24-34 on the BKK segments. I might understand holding back seats on the BKK segments, but not upgrading on the SFO-NRT segment? But...does United seriously believe that they’ll sell 2/3 of their entire C cabin (51 out of 73 seats) in the next 4 days???
2. Any guesses when they might move some upgrades? Day before flight? Sooner? Might they hold back until the DM list at the airport? Several agents said that my chances were excellent. I’m on PA waitlist, small waitlist, and lots of open seats. Yet I’ve gotta wonder...if my odds are so strong, why hasn’t there been any movement?
3. If there’s no movement on the outbound, can I drop the SNA-SFO upgrade (or convert to 500 Milers)? I don’t want to burn an SWU on a lousy 1 hour domestic flight.

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

UA does not fly to NAR (Puerto Nare, Columbia). I assume you mean NRT (Narita, Japan)...

UA is waiting longer and longer to clear upgrades. You should have no problem, but may have to wait until day of flight. As far as dropping the SNA-SFO upgrade, don't worry - MP is good about working this out. If you're worried, you can always turn down the upgrade on the day of flight.

Wasn't this same question posted in another thread yesterday?

I stand corrected...and feeling a bit foolish. :o I've made that silly mistake on ITN and Travelocity searches, but this is the first time here on FlyerTalk. Maybe someday I may get NRT right the first time!

BTW, thanks for the info. Guess I'll just have to sweat it out. But still can't figure out why the outbound transpac hasn't cleared yet, but the return has. :confused:

IIRC, similar but not quite the same. Mostly discussed the weekend flights, which are always busy. I deliberately scheduled mid-week flights in order to maximize my upgrade chances. He was wondering why his flights were so heavily booked. I was curious as to why UA wasn't upgrading C cabins that were 2/3 to 1/3 empty.

I did SEA-NRT-BKK-NRT-SEA in May and on the legs that did not clear at booking they seemed to clear about 72 hours before the flight (similar situations..there were a ton of seats showing open on the seat maps).

You're probably in fine shape.

I did two round-trips of SFO-NRT-BKK earlier this year. Each cleared exactly 3 days before the flight. Most of the time the C was pretty empty but the inventory was held back nonetheless, but one of the BKK-NRT was really a close call, at least it appeared to be - it showed C2 D1 a week before but somehow some C seats were freed up closer to flight date.

Waitlist on Award Ticket
 

What do I expect when I am confirmed in Y and waitlist on Business. Do I check the status on UAL.com and if that do not cleared, am I going to wait at the gate on the day of departure. :o

I am flying SFO-NRT on the same exact day as you, the 11.20am flight. I am currently scheduled to sit on 15A on that flight. I got upgraded on the spot when I paid for the tickets. This was back in September. However, on the return, NRT-SFO on 11/28, I was waitlisted and even though there were over 55 seats unsold in C, I was waitlisted all the way until 2 days ago when it cleared.

On the NRT-SFO, the agent told me there was over 25 people on the WL. But if the cabin is empty, do not worry about it, I think you will clear