Another dysfunctional problem at United:

This weekend, Mrs. G and I were flying separately to the midwest. Since I am 1K and she is a Premier, I decided to give her a pair of HK-49's so that she could get a confirmed upgrade both ways, and I would take my chances on 500-mile upgrades. While in the C-14 RCC at ORD on July 13, I personally asked the reservations agent to authorize the upgrades from my account to my wife's itinerary.

When my wife checked in on Thursday, the agent told her that her upgrade was not authorized. Frantically, she called me and I spent 10 minutes on the phone with the 1K desk to get them to fix the problem. She had the same problem returning. Fortunately I arrived at the counter shortly later and fixed the problem.

United created the e-upgrades "for our convenience" (ha!) and then they don't follow through when we follow their crazy rules. Shame on you, United.