More likely - DUT (the 'automated' upgrade system) spotted him as (i) a solo passenger who could easily be moved to help solve for over-booking and/or (ii) a new member of BAEC with good prospects on future booked travel, who could be offered an upgrade to WTP as an inducement to purchase WTP over WT in the future...


The algorithm for these sort of upgrades is pretty mysterious, so to some extent we are all speculating - but anecdotally the system somewhat favours using necessary OpUps as 'marketing' over 'rewarding' existing status of the passenger or related HHA members...


It may be that the 'marketing' potential was increased by being connected to some more status-heavy passengers through the HHA...but who knows.