Waitlisted for Upgrade; Should I OLCI?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: BOS, LHR, BLR
Posts: 692
Waitlisted for Upgrade; Should I OLCI?
I'm flying BOS-ORD-HKG-SGN tomorrow. Applied an SWU, cleared BOS-ORD and HKG-SGN, waitlisted ORD-HKG. UA895 is showing C9, Z9, NC0.
Should I bother with OLCI and just ask at BOS if I've been upgraded?
Should I bother with OLCI and just ask at BOS if I've been upgraded?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 16, 2009 at 11:20 am Reason: added clarification to thread title
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
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Posts: 9,198
No idea what your status and fare paid are... but generally speaking you should do OLCI as soon as possible because time added to the DM list is the tiebreaker after status & fare so it can't hurt. But if the flight is C9 you probably have a good shot at clearing regardless.
#3
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
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#4
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
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It's a tough call, sometimes.
I recently had a sponsored upgrade ex-Hawai`i clear at 3 hours out. But I'd already done OLCI since for a week the flight had been showing F1/NF0 and as a 2P I figured there was zero chance.
But since I'd already checked-in (and since the Easy Check-In kiosk would let me cancel check in for some reason), I had to deal with the CSR in person and instruct her on how to off-load me and re-check me in. She had to call over another agent to help figure out how to do it.
Turns out that she pulled e500s from my sponsor's account instead of the expected CR1.
I recently had a sponsored upgrade ex-Hawai`i clear at 3 hours out. But I'd already done OLCI since for a week the flight had been showing F1/NF0 and as a 2P I figured there was zero chance.
But since I'd already checked-in (and since the Easy Check-In kiosk would let me cancel check in for some reason), I had to deal with the CSR in person and instruct her on how to off-load me and re-check me in. She had to call over another agent to help figure out how to do it.
Turns out that she pulled e500s from my sponsor's account instead of the expected CR1.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
It's a tough call, sometimes.
I recently had a sponsored upgrade ex-Hawai`i clear at 3 hours out. But I'd already done OLCI since for a week the flight had been showing F1/NF0 and as a 2P I figured there was zero chance.
But since I'd already checked-in (and since the Easy Check-In kiosk would let me cancel check in for some reason), I had to deal with the CSR in person and instruct her on how to off-load me and re-check me in. She had to call over another agent to help figure out how to do it.
Turns out that she pulled e500s from my sponsor's account instead of the expected CR1.
I recently had a sponsored upgrade ex-Hawai`i clear at 3 hours out. But I'd already done OLCI since for a week the flight had been showing F1/NF0 and as a 2P I figured there was zero chance.
But since I'd already checked-in (and since the Easy Check-In kiosk would let me cancel check in for some reason), I had to deal with the CSR in person and instruct her on how to off-load me and re-check me in. She had to call over another agent to help figure out how to do it.
Turns out that she pulled e500s from my sponsor's account instead of the expected CR1.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: ual 1k, marriott platinum
Posts: 71
upgrade not cleared check in question
I am flying den lax mco. Am 1K and using an expiring SWU? Only den lax has cleared. Should I do OLCI at home or checkin at airport to have a better chance at upgrade
Thanks
Thanks
#8
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
If it hasn't cleared at the 24 hr mark, then you're on the DM list for upgrades. Check in as soon at the 24 hour mark for best position on DM.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)
That's exactly what I do and almost always my u/g has cleared by the time I get to the gate and see my name on the screen.
I check everyday before hand, but they have been mostly clearing at the gate of recent.
Originally Posted by unavaca
If it hasn't cleared at the 24 hr mark, then you're on the DM list for upgrades. Check in as soon at the 24 hour mark for best position on DM.
I check everyday before hand, but they have been mostly clearing at the gate of recent.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)
That's exactly what I do and almost always my u/g has cleared by the time I get to the gate and see my name on the screen.
I check everyday before hand, but they have been mostly clearing at the gate of recent.
That's exactly what I do and almost always my u/g has cleared by the time I get to the gate and see my name on the screen.
I check everyday before hand, but they have been mostly clearing at the gate of recent.
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Can I summarize?
I just waded through the 5 pages of this thread. Let me summarize what I think is the way to do this:
1) Online check in as early as possible to beat out somebody who is the same status and fare as you do. This is the only time early online check in has an advantage, otherwise, status and fare trump time of check-in.
2) When you on-line check in this early, you may have to "uncheck" yourself and get a new boarding pass if you do get the upgrade.
3) The reason some people say to wait until the last possible minute is so that they do not have to "uncheck" themselves or get a new BP, which can be a hassle.
Is this a correct summary?
1) Online check in as early as possible to beat out somebody who is the same status and fare as you do. This is the only time early online check in has an advantage, otherwise, status and fare trump time of check-in.
2) When you on-line check in this early, you may have to "uncheck" yourself and get a new boarding pass if you do get the upgrade.
3) The reason some people say to wait until the last possible minute is so that they do not have to "uncheck" themselves or get a new BP, which can be a hassle.
Is this a correct summary?
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K MM, HHonors Diamond,PC, Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 1,117
It depends...
I recently had the experience of checking in online for a return flight to ORD from PVG. I checked in right at the 24 hour point, with a waitlisted upgrade on the screen.
Shortly after that, my SWU UG cleared, but I was blocked from seat selection and it was under airport control in PVG with 23 hours to go until flight time.
No one at web support or on the 1K line could offload me and allow me to pick the only available window seat (no aisles left at that point) so I was very frustrated. Fortunately, the following day I got the seat I had asked for by getting to the airport early enough to be one of the first to check in for Business Class.
Shortly after that, my SWU UG cleared, but I was blocked from seat selection and it was under airport control in PVG with 23 hours to go until flight time.
No one at web support or on the 1K line could offload me and allow me to pick the only available window seat (no aisles left at that point) so I was very frustrated. Fortunately, the following day I got the seat I had asked for by getting to the airport early enough to be one of the first to check in for Business Class.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,367
I just waded through the 5 pages of this thread. Let me summarize what I think is the way to do this:
1) Online check in as early as possible to beat out somebody who is the same status and fare as you do. This is the only time early online check in has an advantage, otherwise, status and fare trump time of check-in.
2) When you on-line check in this early, you may have to "uncheck" yourself and get a new boarding pass if you do get the upgrade.
3) The reason some people say to wait until the last possible minute is so that they do not have to "uncheck" themselves or get a new BP, which can be a hassle.
Is this a correct summary?
1) Online check in as early as possible to beat out somebody who is the same status and fare as you do. This is the only time early online check in has an advantage, otherwise, status and fare trump time of check-in.
2) When you on-line check in this early, you may have to "uncheck" yourself and get a new boarding pass if you do get the upgrade.
3) The reason some people say to wait until the last possible minute is so that they do not have to "uncheck" themselves or get a new BP, which can be a hassle.
Is this a correct summary?
bump to see if more experienced folks agree with the very cogent 3 points above. thanks.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 363
Now that UDU is in place, I suppose this isn't an issue anymore?
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,367
But what about for international travel? if you are wait-listed should you use OLCI or wait until the airport?