Originally Posted by
findark
Curiosity - I was on a flight where there were 3 empty seats in F at the gate and no one on the upgrade list. They went out filled by standby pax who had a zone of "MAIN1" and a seat assignment in F on the app. Are these NRSA, op-ups, or something else? I want to say there were a couple of empties in C+, but not sure and Y was full.
If the flight was full, they could have been OP-UPs (including BE passengers without seat assignments), deadheaders (employees traveling for company business) eligible for FC if available, or NRSA (nonrevs), who are entitled to the best seat available on the flight at the time they are cleared (assuming not traveling with small child and IIRC dressed OK for FC). If the flight wasn't full, there shouldn't be any OP-UPs, but a GA might have anticipated a full flight and then had a last minute no-show after having done an OP-UP, but the rule would be that OP-UPs shouldn't happen if there's a nonrev who qualifies for FC sitting in coach.