PM here, usually get automatic upgrade to DC at purchase. I was automatically upgraded to a lousy middle DC seat at purchase of a domestic itinerary so called in to move me back to a main cabin exit row as no other DC seats were available.

I had the upgrade to FC box checked since purchase but not the upgrade to DC box checked. Four days before the flight I went back in and saw several good DC seats now available obviously from DM/PM who got upgraded to FC. Not only did it upgrade me to DC but it then also immediately upgraded me to FC.

I was not aware that an upgrade request directly from MC to FC wasn’t recognized by the system and that one had to go from MC to DC then from DC to FC within the 5-day window.