Folks, I can't figure this out. The changes have been so rapid of late that I maybe I missed something. Otherwise, I think I got screwed.

I'm Gold. Just did my 50K MQM recently for next year.

I was on an ATL/SLC flight on a U fare. I went online and waitlisted for upgrade 12 hrs prior, which is my understanding of what you have to do.

I got to the airport and kiosked a bag. Apparently I made an error there because I didn't press the upgrade button on the screen, thinking that having done it online sufficed. I expected to be on the upgrade waitlist on the big screen at the gate.

I got to the gate just before boarding started. I went to the table and asked if my upgrade had cleared. The agent said something like this:

"Oh. You didn't activate!"

"I didn't what?"

"Activate. You must activate at checkin."

"I did it online."

"No, that's not enough. You have to do it twice."

Silence. "Is first full."

"Yup. Sorry. Better luck next time."

Can someone tell me what sense online upgrade waitlisting makes if there is another relevant event that must take place?