steveb - 12:15 am on Dec 11, 2009 (gmt 0)

Whatever they are doing now sure is better than before, but a waiting period would be an interesting phenomenon.

After the old URL disappears, did you change all the linking to the new page to the new URL?

I can imagine a lag time before the new URL shows up and ranks based strictly on 301 links, but if the new page has links pointing to its new/correct URL, then obviously it should appear in the results as soon as a brand new page. If it doesn't, then the vacation from the results must be "forced" because a 301 is in place.

Of course a forced vacation is better than a permanent death sentence...