Greetings!

Apologies if this is not a new subject and has been answered before (in which case I would like to be directed to the thread). Here's my scenario/situation.

-I book a flight 12 days out and request an upgrade for a CR1. I am placed on waitlist and the CR1 is pulled.

-If the upgrade does not clear (I am currently #1 on the WL and that is never a good omen... ) the CR1 is returned to my account.

-We go to the complimentary upgrade window. If my upgrade clears, my CR1 is gone.

If I had never requested an upgrade I would still be on the WL and if it clears I am good without the CR1. To me, the sole purpose of using the CR1 is to avail myself of something that is only available for currency and not for something that is available for free. Why is the CR1 not returned as soon as the complimentary period is entered?

And, since that does not seem to be the case, is there a strategy to avoid this?