Taking months to "fix" the upgrade process?
Didn't PMCO have an upgrade process already in place in SHARES?

I flew DCA-IAH last August booked as UA on a CO flight with UAMP in the system. I got upgraded 2 days prior to departure under the UDU, simple and easy. That would have been facilitated through the SHARES system. So it did exist then, why is it such a pain now?

My cynical side says it's just footdragging to either garner ToD $$ (or burn up regional upgrades) to make up for the cost of the switch. Let' face it, there's a ton of 1K's out there now and more people than ever eligible for a free upgrade - and they are not adding seats to First.