United is not the upgrade machine it used to be TATL. I have been sitting on some for ages and they do not seem to clear in advance anymore, always the poxy "clear at the gate" option. Fine for me when I am travelling on my own as I get lounge access, but when I stick the family on it it never clears until, hopefully, the gate (LHR-SFO on Monday pls!). Lump that in with the extreme lack of award travel and I am seriously fed up with them.