In Chicago on my way to Paris. I’ve been #1 on the upgrade list with either 1 or 2 seats available for COS-ORD for a week or so (Plus Points applied). Upgrade cleared 30 minutes before the flight, so just as we were starting to board. For ORD-CDG, I’ve gone from #3 to #2 to #1 over this week — been at the #1 spot for the last 2 days but upgrade still hasn’t cleared 2 hours before boarding. To be fair to United, as of a day and a half ago, there were 7 spots available in Polaris so even my sister (Miles + Money upgrade request) was #5 on the list but I saw 2 nights ago that the 7 seats went down to 3 but #1 and #2 had disappeared, leaving me as #1, and then this morning they went down to 2.

Doesn’t really matter much other than having to do the layover in the crowded United Club rather than the Polaris Lounge but it would be annoying if the upgrade meant a lot to me. I’d like to use the PPs rather than let them expire and of course Polaris is more enjoyable but I booked this trip in Premium Plus so am anticipating a comfortable flight anyway. United seems to be all over giving me the upgrade 3 days in advance for flights that don’t matter but I guess they really hope someone is going to buy those last 2 Polaris tickets at the last minute.