Originally Posted by SF_trotter
Even if you are still stuck with an E- seat at check-in, not all is lost. Since at least a few of the E+ passengers are likely to upgrade to 1st or biz, you ay be able to snatch the E+ seats they left behind at the gate.
This is good advice, but you might do one better by calling reservations after each of the elite upgrade windows end (at 120, 100, 72, 48, and 24 hrs.). If you make a dummy booking for a FC tix and see that there are more than a couple FC seats open, chances are that some MP elites will be upgraded into those seats at their upgrade window time.