After getting my 1K to EXP status match, I finally decided to switch my usual ORD-DCA trip to AA last week. This was a 6:30am Monday morning flight, so I knew upgrade would be tough.

Didn't start off very well as when I checked in using the mobile app I got an error message saying it could not add me to airport upgrade list. Called EXP line and they said it is a known problem, but there was nothing they could do since they couldn't un-check me in since flight was already sold out.

Went to counter at the airport at 5:30am and they were able to fix it. Didn't matter in the end as a CK coworker was on the flight and he didn't even clear into F. I finished 5th on the list.

Used the website to check in on my return and my upgrade cleared about 4 hours before departure.

Is this a known bug? I couldn't find anything through an FT search.

As an aside, I am really struggling with where to put my 2013 travel. United is terrible post merger, and I would love to switch, but now with the AA pilots intentionally causing delays I don't know what to do
Neither of these airlines seem to be at all reliable anymore and they are really my only logical choices out of ORD.