Help!

I am sitting in the Intl. RCC at SFO right now and wondering what to do. First, the context:

My itinerary was LAX-SFO-FRA-STR, with UA 239 to SFO and UA 900 to FRA. I had a confirmed upgrade on both flights using a friend's SWU. Due to a mechanical problem, UA 239 departd LA 2 hours late and got to the SFO gate at around 1:40 pm. (At least I was sitting in 1st for the 3 hours I spent on board!) I jogged from Gate 90 to Gate 97 - almost the farthest possible distance at SFO - and got there just in time to see the jetway being retracted.

So, I went up to the RCC and asked then to rebook me. They had already put me onto UA 930, the 7:00 pm flight to LHR. Now the fun begins:

After almost 30 minutes of typing and telephoning, the agent handed me an E+ BP to LHR. She said, "you are waitlisted for the upgrade. However, since a friend upgraded you, the SWU was "used" on the FRA flight, even though you weren't on it. The SWU will be deducted from her account whether you get the upgrade or not. Actually, the UG is already gone, but as a favor to you, since you were delayed due to a mechanical problem, I have put you on the UG waitlist anyway."

I can't believe that this is really UA policy. However, since I unfortunately am no longer a 1K (since Jan 31 ), I can't call the 1K line. I don't know who to call to try and resolve this. I'm afraid that waiting until I get back to Germany will only make it harder to resolve. I mean, even if I don't get the UG tonight, at least my friend shouldn't lose her SWU!

Any ideas on what to do? I'll be here in the RCC for another 2 hours, so an immediate response would be really helpful! Thanks!