Return flight update:
Took two flights this week, SLC-DEN and DEN-ATL.
On first, flight was delayed over 1 hour because of ground stop in DEN. But no gate announcement for early boarding for elites (or military or anyone else except for pre-boarding).
On second flight, announced that early boarding was for Diamond elites only. But my spouse and I (Gold elites) went up anyway and got our BPs scanned without issue.
Btw, there were people with babies that they wouldn't pre-board in DEN. Made them wait until Zone 1! Inexplicable.