She's correct. As a Chairman's Preferred, I can't get that seat (unless I'm wiling to pay for it) if it's not released for upgrade.

Pre-merger days, US would routinely hold up to 3 or 4 FC seats for last-minute sales, and I remember the "gate-dances" or battlefield upgrades at the airport or while already seated on the plane. It generally appears (with exceptions on popular routes) that "new US" is more generous about upgrades, to the consternation of Elites booking last-minute (or mis-connecting) and finding FC solidly booked.

For me, it's all part of the fun of flying US. Most times, my upgrades happen at my 7-day window, and that's great. Sometimes, as in your case, only a few seats are left for sale, and I get the email that no upgrades are available. Well, like a game, that gets my juices flowing It gets real challenging when FC is fuly booked (F0 showing) and I'm hoping someone cancels at the last minute, and if so, how high am I on the waitlist? (there may be other CPs who've flown more year-to-date and the computer ranks them higher).

I learned a long time ago that short-haul upgrades don't really matter - I've willingly given up my FC seat to sit in the last row of Economy so that I could get home earlier. On longer flights, it matters of course, and so the concern begins - will I or won't I get that seat?

Guess I'm upgraded enough to make flying US worthwhile..... hey, it gets me where I want to go, usually in comfort, at a price I'm willing to pay