A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
If C+ "upgrade" space WU is available, the "upgrade" should clear immediately after you check the box for the "upgrade" to C+.
However, I suspect that in the OP's case, ther problem is that a free elite upgrade and an instrument supported upgrade cannot be requested simultaneously; you must pick either the free elite upgrades or elect to use miles/GUCs/RUCs. Hence, I *suspect* that applying the RUC means that you cannot ask for a free elite upgrade, even if only to C+, for tghe same direction of your itinerary. You could remove the RUC request, wait until your C+ clears assuming that C+ "upgrades" are currently available, and then reapply the RUC a hour or so later, but this would reset the time stamp for your request, something you might not wish to do.