Weird one - flying LAX-NRT-LAX last week with wife, paid miles+cash to upgrade outbound no problem, tried it on the return leg and ended up on the waiting list near the top but got an email 24h before that said "sorry you we couldn't clear you". Both the app and the website showed us on the upgrade list.

All normal except when I went to check for the refund of the miles and money, I found that they never charged my cc and never took out the miles (and I didn't have any SWU's before either).

Called them today and at first they could find no record that I had requested an upgrade then after a long bit of research they found a record that I had been on the web page, but that there was no payment attached to the upgrade request. They could tell that my status was "upgrade didn't clear".

So, since there's no complementary upgrades on international, how does one end up on the upgrade waiting list without forking over money or a SWU? Every time in the past they have charged the cc right away and the miles disappear from your account, then you get it back a week or two later if the upgrade doesn't clear. It's just weird.

While not common, but neither it is unknown, for the miles+copay/GPU/RPU not to be pulled at time of request. However, most of the time, if the upgrade clears the items will be deducted (and a very, very rare case, that is missed and you got a freebie).

I believe that upgrades in Asia are handled very differently than they are in the US - this is probably what it is...

there is some differences between CPU/ domestic upgrades and international upgrades. I've had upgrade cert never pulled on a TATL. Otherwise nothing special about Asia that has been discussed on FT.

Well its been my epxerience that upgrades are just processed differently in Asia - like CPU only starts at 24h prior to departure.... On my last flight from SIN to NRT I checked in (J class) and was told no upgrade to First available. By the time I go to the gate they had upgraded me. In the US / EMEA always clears way in advance or at time of booking... They also seem to clear a lot at the gate / club in NRT and not often in advance - perhaps because they swap planes so much based on what is coming in late, etc... I don't pretend to be an expert - just have noticed that things operate differently when origniating from asia - even on a return ticket.

My GPUs are always pulled at the time I am wailisted, and I always have to call after the flight to request a manual re-deposit. A big PITA.

assume you mean RPUs or GPUs

These are the norm and what the vast majority experience - nothing usual about that. However there have been many cases on FT where the instrument / miles did not get pulled at time of request. In most of those cases, if the upgrade is successful, the missing items will be deducted at checkin.

You are right - I've corrected it now. Thx