Last December I was flying with my daughter from LGW to DXB, busy season, the day after boarding schools broke up for winter break. I didn't set auto upgrade because I didn't want one of us to get it and not the other, so I set alerts for both of us. One morning I checked just for the heck of it and upgrade was suddenly available. I hadn't received an alert yet but I opened both of our bookings simultaneously and they both had the option so I clicked them together and got the upgrades. I don't know if anyone else got the alert or auto but after that I feel that it is DIY and we must check it several times a day. I have a rather dim secretary so that will be her main role now, checking for upgrade availability.