I should also mention that they removed the fare restriction on the "Select" 30,000 mile Hawaii Only R/T upgrade level. Sort of related to this: On our recent Hawaii trip, back before they removed the fare restriction on this "Select" 30K R/T Hawaii Award, when I called and booked our trip, there was a lower fare available at the time, but it could not be upgraded, so I took a higher fare just so I could use upgrade. I was a little ticked that I had to play this little game at the time, I can tell you. About a month later when I heard they had now removed the restriction, I called reservations back and explained that now I was really ticked that I had to paid a higher fare for (now) no reason. She totally agreed, explained the situation to a supervisor, who approved a retroactive refund for the difference on the spot. Another case of good Customer Service...thanks, United.

So, in a nutshell, I guess you can now say that on the Continental U.S. and Hawaii "Select" upgrade awards, they have removed the "Select" (it still has to be a published fare, however). International "Select" upgrade restrictions still apply.