Originally Posted by
3Cforme
Don't assume that all persons with higher priority than you - same elite status on any paid fare - cleared by the 24hr window.
Sometimes there are Plats (and even Diamonds, I hear) clearing at the gate.
^
6 seats open at T-24 doesn't mean anything. Delta does not release every single FC seat for upgrades in advance; they often hold some for last-minute sales and give them away at the gate if unsold. There could have been DMs and PMs that never cleared in advance either, and they were upgraded at the gate before you. Also note that if you were both in the same PNR, you would have both cleared after all GMs on revenue tickets... pretty low in the pecking order.