Recently on a CDG-DXB (A380) in Y (sadly my default location), as passengers boarded it appeared there was an over-allocation in Y by one (passenger list was apparently incorrect).

I was on the front exit row and listened to a full conversation between purser and the section supervisor - as there was two seats available in J, the purser said she will be upgrading one passenger to balance things in Y. The supervisor asked who and the purser gave the seat number of the lucky recipient (row behind me), stated his name, followed by “Gold”. I caught sight of the passengers gold status on his ticket as he gleefully gathered his luggage and relocated upstairs.

Let me be clear, I’m not disgruntled and certainly won’t lose any sleep over this as I believe if you pay for Y you get Y etc, but I am curious on the current criteria for op-ups as I am Platinum, was on a Flex-Plus ticket, travelling alone, sat in exit row. I’m taking a wild, wild guess that it may have been my exit row seat that prevented what would have been a most welcome promotion?

I’ve further noticed that in 9 months as Platinum I have not had a single op-up compared to a previous near 30-40% hit-rate as gold. I typically fly on EK 4-8 times a month and several of those have been full (in Y at least).

Any explainable insight on current policy? Was this just one of those days when the upgrade fairies were having a bad day or am I somehow “blacklisted”? 🤷🏻.♂️