I'm curious, and haven't seen it noted, what the frequent flyer status of the minors was?

I had a United Express flight a few years ago Sacramento-SFO that was weight restricted and they needed 4-5 passengers to get off. They got two volunteers for $300 vouchers (one being me), and then IDB'd based on frequent flyer status. Those with "no status" did not get to fly. The only exception they made was for a member of the military under orders to be somewhere (with no status) and they IDB'd someone in his place.

Now, this was probably back when Mesa ran this route, and I've only seen it happen once in over a million miles of flying, but I still wonder if special rules apply when it comes to weight and balance situations and bumping people.

Would these kids not have been bumped at all if they had status?