I too have had trouble buying e ugrades over the past
six weeks. I applied for paper cert upgrade's on line. Of the Six segments attempted, all cleared at the gate, but have been charged for only two segemnts flown. I alway's explained to the GA about the united .bomb
experience, several smiled in apperant agreement. I tried to pay with
credit card but MP visa has only been charged 200.00 for one pachage.
I may have just had a lucky streak, but maybe the take home message
is to always hit paper cert's on the website, get to the gate early and try to buy cert's there. Some of these may have been discretionary up ups by the GA BUT I am only a lowly 2p heading toward 1p.