Originally Posted by
ULMFlyer
G/A to me (GS, Y fare, #1 on WL): "Sir, I can't upgrade you just yet. There might still be passengers with higher status or priority than you showing up!"
This was perfectly true. You could have been trumped by an FFCC passenger showing up, or senior UA mgmt travelling positive space at the last minute. there are probably some other circumstances I can't remember.
Even ignoring that, I don't blame the gate agent for a rote response. 99.5% of the time they are asked that it will be someone other than a GS on a Y fare. Checking the fare class just takes time they probably don't have at that moment.