flyer215: I think you are confusing instrument upgrades and CPUs. The latter you are correct about - done in sweeps. The former are not. If you apply and instrument to a trip with R>0 it will clear immediately for you. It will not await a sweep. Thus if you are waitlisted and R>0 and remove and reapply the instrument you will clear. There may indeed be others also waitlisted and stuck for some reason - even ones with higher status. But it isn't awaiting a sweep. I had exactly such a case recently - granted as a GS it is unlikely anyone is ahead of me. But when the agent balked at forcing the upgrade I simply had her remove the request and then reapply it. Presto - upgrade.