This happened to me last Sunday as well...... but just to add insult to Injury I WAS on one of those "Y-up" fares and still couldn't get the seat up front for some reason!

I made the reservation about 8 or 9 days in advance but nothing available on this flight or the 3 previous ones in the day!!!

BTW I have been on 159 segments so far this year and this was only the 2nd time all year that I missed an upgrade when I was on a plane that had 1st class which is well over 120 of the 159.

Cheers!