In theory or in practice?

In theory, at least according to UA Insider, TODs aren't even supposed to be offered if the number of elites on the WL >= number of open seats in F. In practice, of course, who knows. Status trumps fare class except for the highest coach fares, but even if people came in and bought such fares, you still shouldn't have been downgraded.

What I'm trying to figure out is how in the world F was oversold in the first place in the absence of a downgague situation. Was the previous flight cancelled?

When GS are getting downgraded, you know something is seriously, seriously wrong...