Originally Posted by
gold23
It has been many years since I've seen more seats in first available than elites on an upgrade list.
I *think* (OK, I'm pretty sure I know) what happened. There were a couple flights out of IAH to GDL that elites jumped over to while there was still space in them. I saw her seating assignment at one point early on and business class was filling up...then it was nearly empty later on in the evening.
I can also say that as a gold, I don't get many upgrades--but the last two trips to GDL in March I was upgraded (and nearly everyone else on the list) 3/4 times. And at the 24 hour mark, which has never happened to me.