I had an interesting YBYL experience on AC123 on Friday. I was traveling with a coworker (both SE) and we were in 11 & 12 on the J waitlist (out of 40!).

The flight was 28/28 in J, and 23/24 in PY, so it didn't look good. At T-45, there were 2 no shows and the first 2 on the list were upgraded. The next person went to PY.

We decided to hang back just in case, as the GA said there were 6 people not on board yet. We eventually moved to 1/2 on the list as people boarded. At T-10, there were still 2 not on board, but they showed up at the last second and J was full. I asked the GA if PY had also boarded full, and he said yes.

When we got on board, there was one empty PY seat, and the app changed to 23/24 as the flight closed. I overheard the guy in the PY seat being surprised he had an empty seat next to him. I sat in Y on that flight.

Given the size of the waitlist, surely someone should have moved up to PY there? Was there anything I could have done differently? I boarded at T-9.