That's just the way unfortunately it is going to be from here on out... UA has 3x the number of elites and next year when 1K is ahead of Platinum I wouldn't count on many if it is a big market.

You have all YB and 1K M fares ahead of you, paid upgrades including miles/CR1s/SWUs, GS and 1Ks... as a 1K I fly in Y 70% of the time out of IAD no matter where I go.

Upgrades get sold for cheap to non-status passengers because United (Smisek) doesn't think that we know he's secretly selling away the upgrades for next to nothing instead of rewarding them to Elites.

I know the argument, if you wanted an F seat pay for it... but offering a $50 upsell to a non-elite, not offering it to the elite and then thinking hey we made $50 extra this flight... the loyalty you might lose is worth more than that $50. BUT just my two cents.