Originally Posted by
ANC RED-EYE
I thought status upgrades trumped paid upgrades, correct? So therefore, if you are correct, this proves the system is broken as paid upgrades should not even have been offered since a waitlist was in place.
Unfortunately not, when U is open on day of departure, airport check-in is a free for all where all types of upgrades can be offered and processed. The list is used only at the 72hr, 48hr, 24hr, and D-30 sweeps. I'm with you that it largely diminishes the value of having the waitlist, but this is the way it is designed to operate. Hopefully, the upcoming change of design will be more in line with everybody's expectations.