I Missed my first upgrade in a while on AA85 JFK-SFO...
I was running late and one of the very last to board. The upgrade list had me at number one. I asked a GA if the flight boarded full and he indicated that it had not. After a minute wait the GA began to close out the flight and said I was in luck. However, he then informs me that I'm not number one despite the monitor indicating that I am. I proceed to take my MCE seat. The GA boards and pulls somebody else up to first class.
Shenanigans or some other power at work?
My guess is that people are removed from the list displayed on the monitor as they board, but the original priority remains intact. Why don't they just keep the names up there so people like me don't get their hopes up?