Wow, golds get upgrades?

The last two upgrades I've received I was already on the plane because they waited so long to clear the last seat. Luckily UA will still upgrade you even if you've boarded; some airlines will not. I always have a bag that needs to go in the overhead and I always am on full flights where if you don't board early there won't be any overhead space, so I'm usually one of the first on.