Originally Posted by wcj1

Yes, you asked a more specific question. And no, no one said that that Easy Checkin Online does not help for upgrades.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457710

Things happen in a particular order at UA and so that makes a difference on what you can or cannot do. It will also affect the answers you get on here depending on the specifics you ask. (e.g. You can get seat assignments before you ticket; you cannot get on the upgrade list with 500 milers until after you ticket. You can get on the VDB list for any flight that you are checked in for at any UA ticket counter, RCC, or gate; you cannot try to upgrade for a flight that you are trying to standby on until you are cleared into coach on the new flight first.)

BillJ

P.S. I answered the last question you left in this thread. Did you find it in the paragraph above?