As usual, I should know this, but it has been a while. I am trying UA again after a bit of a hiatus for domestic flights.

Booked LAX-BWI-LAX

• Two pax, both Gold (I'm MM, spouse is my designated gold)
• Outbound Q fare, return S
• Both flights showed us on the CPU list
• Figured WTH, just added us to the outbound miles upgrade waitlist (worth 15k miles each pax for a sucky redeye)

Questions:

1. Confirming the miles + $0 charge should put us above regular CPUs?
2. Either way, for two golds, should I request a split to increase the odds of one of us clearing on the outbound? Wait and split for return only?
3. As a rule, if we were just CPU and no miles pay, is the best strategy to split?
4. If we do split, we are both Gold, I'm MM, will I be above my spouse on the list or is it random? (The reservation is me as pax 1 and her as pax 2 if that matters, but now after submitting the miles pay upgrade request she is listed first, weird.

Thanks.