I know there have been a couple posts about upgrade fee refunds, so I'll add my experience.

I had a domestic reservation returning home EWR-DEN for my wife and I booked for 3/29. Paid upgrade to first (polaris seats, not that it matters). Trip was to see nephews who go to college in NJ, and they'd already been sent home way ahead of that so we just cancelled for future credit. Cancelling flights was voluntary at that point and was/am satisfied with getting the future credit under the waiver in place at the time I cancelled.

I did on online refund request for the upgrade fees only on 3/30. It sat as pending for a while, but popped up as approved yesterday on the status page. I also got an email notification and the refund hit my CC overnight.