I have given up online check-in altogether for these reasons:

1. If I get a pre-upgrade I'd see it in the app
2. Not check-in online solve the issue of "you can only get point as your welcome gift"
3.If you don't see an upgraded room in your app, just chat with the front desk to see if they can do anything for you, and you don't need to check-in online to chat with the front desk
4. Most of the time, even if I did online check-in I still need to go to the front desk to swipe my card - so what's the point?