Last month, as US GLD and PLT, I was 5 for 6 Y to F upgrades on my domestic legs in 2 class planes. Each required me to hit up an agent at some point - either when checking my bag, or with a gate agent on departure, or one of the desk agents in the Admiral's Clubs.

All upgrades had to be paid for either by CC or with E500s out of my AA account, but would have been complimentary had I been US CP at the time, I think.

I was 0 for 4 Y to C upgrades on long haul overseas segments. I had terrible priority as a US GLD/PLT, since AA.com wouldn't let me check in online, meaning I didn't get onto the U/G list until I made it to the airport, and US elites still rank(ed?) below AA elites on AA.