"waitlist closed", what to do now?
 

Hi all,

I'm trying to get my dad upgraded using miles on the long trip from ORD-PEK (M-class ticket), but was told that the waitlist is closed! What's the point of that -- is it just going to be a mad rush to the gate agent on the day of?

Can anyone suggest what I should do now -- would talking to the premier desk help? Or is this beyond their control?

Thanks in advance!

[This message has been edited by TA (edited 05-25-2002).]

They have a max. number of people that can be on the wait-list and when that # is achieved they can't take anymore names..

You may still want to try at the airport considering some of the C class tickets are fully refundable and there's a chance some of those C class ticket holders might not show up. Won't hurt to try.

On a similar topic, is it true that UA can't see where you are on the waitlist? Everytime I call them and ask them where I am on the upgrade waitlist and they tell me they can't see it and can only tell me whether the J cabin still looks good and whether the waitlist is still open.

There is a way to pull up all the waitlisted passengers on a flt. Its under Apollo profile How Listcall, and from there it gives all the passengers on waitlist. It doesn't show by priority, only all waitlisted passengers, by class i.e F,C,Y. It will show how many are priority, and then basic waitlist. Basic is PB, priority waitlist, PA, is used for VIP passengers who have been inconvienced. The computer will look at the fare /and mileage standing of the passenger when clearing waitlists.

[This message has been edited by Agent (edited 05-25-2002).]

TA, waitlist is full...seems pretty staight forward to me.

If upgrade is sought, then a different flight will likely be necessary. The suggestion that you check on the day of the flight is useful, however you should not expect anything.

I have a feeling the "waitlist closed" length is something like 50 people on the list. I was able to waitlist him on the outbound, and was told that there are 45 people on that waitlist.

But on the return, there are 55, and that's the one that's closed...

The waitlist closed also depends upon on the market, and historical no show rate. But if a customer came up to me and wanted to go standby at the airport, there is nothing stopping the agent from just placing the customer on the airport day of standby list. The computer also knows how many of those passengers actually are holding tickets, i.e ticket numbers in the reservation, that pretty well tells United, those pax are going to show up, thus limiting how many people the computer will accept in advance for a standby listing.

FYI, TA, many a times, as a gate agent I have seen/ and worked a flight where the wait list has been closed, and people who have tried to make the flight or be upgraded have gotten on.

Agent will know this better than I but I always had a feeling there was a cap figure of HOW many UA would add to a waitlist before they "closed" it? And that figure was WAY less than 50? More like ten-15 or so on a 747 and that was top end?

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~ Glen ~

The closed waitlist scenario is one of my biggest peeves with United. It has affected me quite a few times.

As a 1K, I am am supposed to have priority on a waitlist. It is a published benefit. But how the heck can I obtain priority if I can't even get on the list in the first place???

I don't care how many are already on the list, put me on it too. What difference does it make to United? Care to guess how many NRSA employees United will list for a flight? I'm not aware of any limit. If it doesn't clear, you don't get it. You knew you were standby anyway. That's what a waitlist is.

So why does this really irk me? Let's say there are 50 people on a waitlist and it is closed (and I think it is closed long before that). That may be 40 Premiers and 10 Premier Execs. Put me on the waitlist as a 1K and I sail right past all of them and am number 1 on the list. But if I can't get on the list, I'm out of luck.

The other scenario that happened to me was that I asked to be placed on the waitlist for an upgrade from NRT to BKK and was told the list was closed. Guess what? They reopen closed lists from time to time. A friend booked the same flight the next day and was added to the waitlist. I called an hour later after he told. What happened? Closed again. Gee thanks.

Give me a break. There is no legitimate reason to close a waitlist. It's just a list in a computer. Leave it open and honor the published benefits. Priority on a waitlist only exists if I can get on the waitlist.

Rant over.

Agent, I've been told in the past when calling UA Premex reservations where I was on the waitlist..is this a function that can just be seen by Supervisors? Other res agents told me they couldn't see where I was on the waitlist...but then others did, and told me exactly where I was on the list..

Okay... I've only been working UA cust. serv. for two yrs. However, I always strive to improve.
To the best of my knowledge, if you are using miles to upgrade, you can only do so if the upgrade can be confirmed in your PNR.
The Premier desk is empowered to work miracles that I cannot at the airport ticket counter. (The only miracle I've been able to do at the gate is tell a Premier- "the seat is empty- please take it. Gratis.")
Ex: A customer checking in last week was told that he was confirmed on all segments for FC. Howver, he was only on the UPGD list for one segment. There wasn't availability for me to confirm him. He called the Premier desk (while I waitlisted him 72 hrs out for his return) and the agent confirmed him outbound by using the full-fare FC option. I would not have been allowed to do this. Having perused his record history, I did not even see where an upgrade attempt had even been made (save for the lone upgrade waitlist record).
Not all gate agents are ticketing agents. A no-show confirmed FC psgr does not mean that availability opens up in the NF category in the 20 mins. prior to dept.
If anyone knows how I can do this for a customer, I sure would love to know.
By the way, prior belief that I could auto-cert upgrades with mileage at the gate on stand-by is the reason that customers were able to "take the empty FC seat... gratis."
Jana

As a 1K I totally agree with Always Flying. I too have been refused to be added to the waitlist, which if added I would likely be in the top ten easily. If enough of the 1ks complain, maybe something will be done, as this policy makes no sense.

I have written three letters in the past two years. All three generated form responses thanking me for my input and that they would look at the issue.

Gee, thanks.

(And don't get me started on why an upgrade seat for a companion can be snagged in advance based on my Mileage Plus status, but suddenly my status means nothing at the airport if we're waitlisted.)

Good question Empress,

I had an interesting conversation with an angel the other day when adding my name to the waitlist.

"There you are Mr Lurker, you are waitlisted and I am pleased to tell you that you are number one on the waitlist. As soon as someone else is entered, the agents will no longer be able to tell you that because the list becomes alphabetical. However, you are number one based on time of addition to the list."

Lurker http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif