I've had zero problem upgrading my leisure trips using my United systemwide upgrades. And because UA gives me 6 of these certs a year, I give UA a lot of my paid C and F revenue throughout the year, just enough to maintain 1K.

If CO eased up on their upgrade policies, they would have seen all that revenue from me instead of UA. Now, I only give CO my excess J/D revenue--after I am confident I will make 1K at United.