Maybe that should be a new category of upgrades. How close can one get to minimum connecting time to get an upgrade? They had no business getting upgraded and the FA was wrong in putting them there. I wonder if she was a new hire and maybe didn't know the rules.

I have been on flights a number of times where the FA's announce we have pax with tight connections and can everybody stay seated when we get to the gate to allow them to exit. Short of musical chairs (all in the same class of service) that's the best way to handle.

Cheers