Lost My Upgrade and Confirmed Seat at T-25
Had a somewhat similar experience. On a recent DFW-JFK flight I checked in about 20hrs before my flight. At an airport kiosk.
The next day, about 3hrs before the flight I checked the upgrade list on my phone and as EXP was first.
About 60mins out, I dropped the rental car and on the shuttle I was happy to see my upgrade had cleared and I was assigned the last seat available in F.
I used my phone to go through TSA and 35mins before departure I go to the gate to get a paper copy of my new boarding pass and I'm giving a seat in coach. Saying an "EXP showed up."
Obviously I complained but the agent didn't care.
Why confirm an upgrade and then take it back 30mins before departure? The person was not an Air Marshall and once on the plane I checked the upgrade list and I was magically 2nd.
Is there any official policy on this? Can/should I complain?