The problem is every time i check with star alliance desk they tell me the flight shows full but copa is asking in an email to bid on an upgrade on those very same seats. Is it full or is space available and if it is available it is against their policy not to upgrade my ticket before bidders.....
are they telling you the flight is full or that there is no upgrade space? there is a difference.
As for the paid upgrade, there may be different inventory for them (it is now on the new united) --- upgrades by CPU or upgrades by RPU or upgrades by $$$ are all considered different and depend on different inventory space. (Not the way the old united did it but is becoming more common among carriers.)
A simple test for a full cabin is to attempt to purchase a paid ticket -- likely you can do that.