Hit the wrong key. QF does not release the seats even at the airport when seats are available. We just had the same experience last month where one leg akl to syd was downgraded for one of us, and the business cabin was wide open, and the check in, lounge, and gate agents would not review or consider opening up the seats. We were both exp one world emerald at the time, but QF doesn not care. I even asked the FA's to check when I boarded since there were so many seats open, and after take off they came back to tell me that the ground crew had indicated my partner was flying on a coach ticket.., even though it was a downgraded business award and the next leg the next day from syd to pvg was in business.