I recently had a frustrating experience because I was trying to book last minute on an M flight pass during spring break. No availability on any flights ATL-YYZ-YVR-YYJ, so I had to book terminating in YVR, I flew my first segment, and between leaving ATL and arriving YYZ M space opened up on YVR-YYJ. I was pleading with the concierge to do something to get me my final segment, which they couldn't/wouldn't.

Now to the relevant part of this story. I asked about the upgrade list on my YYZ-YVR flight and received a similar line to cow. "We can't tell you what your waitlist position is until the flight is closed at xx:xx, at that time ask the dragon if your upgrade cleared." But before that told me that they mentioned "unless a MM gets on the list..." Low and behold there was only one open J seat on that flight and I was the only one upgraded at the gate.

I'm wondering if this whole stance of yyz concierges not telling you list position until the flight is closed is a new policy.