Quote Originally Posted by isppilot View Post
Your uncle, the employee, would be the best resource to answer these questions. Generally speaking, you usually clear for a connecting flight at the connecting city gate.
Received clarification on my questions.

1 - You only clear at the connecting city gate (As mentioned) if space available, but you are placed higher in the upgrade list (Against other D3's) if you are a connecting passenger. Or if you get to the airport very early. So it could benefit you to get to the airport as early as allowed. (Example - I'm flying JFK-LAX, departing JFK at 6am eastern time. Arriving at JFK at 4am. This is 1 AM at LAX)

2 - You can be move from 1 flight to another to increase your chances of an upgrade, but you might not receive a meal. One of the actions the sponsoring employee conducts is "meal listing" the non-rev. This needs to happen 48 hours in advance of our flight. So if you are T-48 hours and look to move flights, you risk not having a meal.