Originally Posted by
jsloan
If the agents are being lazy, they may provide op-ups to passengers without seats after all passengers with applied instruments have been cleared but before op-ups are given to passengers with status. They're not supposed to, but I can't say it never happens. However, that would still only take place after instrument upgrades have been cleared.
Yes, UA will only op-up if clearing instruments doesn't resolve the oversell.
It's really interesting how regularly and heavily UA oversells PE. And how common it is for PE to fare higher than J. I'm assuming this is driven by corporate travel policies that allow PE but not J (even when PE is priced higher).