What list do you show up on? You cannot show up on the PDA waitlist until you are checked in so I don't know how you'd be there 3 days in advance. You will show up on the cleared list as soon as you clear (and the list becomes available).
How would the agent know whether an upgrade "should have gone through" or not? The presence of R inventory right now is not the same as having it exist when the EUA system actually processes. And I'm glad that the agent didn't force the upgrade for you. That is not how the system works.


No one is lying to you.

CO is selling more F seats. Yes, that means fewer EUAs. But for several years now the policy has been that the EUAs go out for seats that are unsold or that are expected to be unsold. Nothing has changed in that regard, other than that CO is actually selling more of them and working harder to do so.

Four nights ago, CO Insider wrote "With buy-ups, we're doing nothing more than selling our retail First Class fares, which has and will continue to take priority over complimentary space-available Elite upgrades."

We can't confuse the EUA process with the elite upgrades themselves. The latter are, and in all likelihood will continue to be, a stated Elite program benefit. EUA, on the other hand, is a tremendous add-on provided to us, that, unfortunately for us, stands somewhat in the way of the company's aggressive marketing of the F inventory. The choice may, soon, typically come down to either waiting for the space of be available with certainty: at the gate, or else buy-up to an upgradable fare.

So now there at least 3 running threads covering this issue

Can't a moderator combine or link them to reduce repitition

I have a flight on Monday - and yes I would say EUA is broke. R available both before and after EUA. I know CO plays games with R and EUA both I do not think that is the issue here. I think CO is having EUA problems.