I'm happy that knowledge of that policy has helped people over the years, BUT, I think it's important to read the whole travelingbetter thread for some context.

The context being that no one-- or at least most certainly not me-- has ever really opined on the hows/whens/whys of the limits of this policy. There's some good discussion of people who have-- and haven't-- succeeded over the years.

And the quoted policy is also a little old at this point as well. (Not that I have any reason it's been modified/limited interim.)

SO, in summary, in a situation where entire planes-full of pax need to be reaccomodated over a period of days with several flights cancelled, etc-- it aint gonna happen-- it just can't. Paid F and J pax will, needless to say, need to be accommodated way before and above upgraded passengers.

Again, very personally gratified that that thread on TB helps/helped, but I personally am not comfortable stating "yes, you're entitled to this" or "it's policy, period" as advice to people.