I think some of you are forgetting that a paid upgrade to D1, either with miles, cash, or certificate, should be treated as a purchased D1 cabin ticket. This wasn't a free op-up or something like that.

Yes, if there are no seats then obviously the pax can't get accommodated. However, suggesting that because there were irops that the pax be treated like a Y ticket holder is absurd.

This brings back those heated discussions of people purchasing GAP fares and irops and some agents saying it was only a coach ticket with a 'free' upgrade... yet it cost more and was paid to sit in F.

Bottom line - DL should treat it as a D1 ticket and give irops and preferred handling as D1, and along with PM status. If there is a seat, they get the seat. If there is no seat, then they can accept a lower cabin, or other routing or overnight to stay in D1.