As an EXP who buys a lot of tickets less than a day before flying, I am grateful for the late clearing; it makes it far easier for me to get the upgrade ahead of PLTs and GLDs who would otherwise clear ahead of me. Personally I don't understand why they don't clear all upgrades a few hours before the flight. Earlier clearing might help some people sleep a little better, but provides no real benefit as long as the upgrades are ultimately cleared in the same priority order.