Background:
Ordered day 1 within 2 hours, was on the first flight from shanghai. Arrived at cologne, but was not sent on to the UK although others were.
There should be a flight tonight / early tomorrow morning from cologne to the UK and my MBP and others in the same situation would make it in time for delivery saturday morning, but the service apple put us on isn't eligible for Saturday delivery (it could happen, but technically it shouldn't).
I called UPS and they said that UPS has a contract with apple that says they must make one delivery attempt before you can collect it and they can't modify any shipping details (such as upgrades to a sat. Del. Service) until it is in the UK which will be early morning and their hotline will be closed so I won't be able to upgrade in time. I might give apple a call and see what they can do on their UPS side of things.
This is so frustrating.