there is no way in hell that a flight will leave with empyty seats (J or Y) when paid passengers are watching the AC taxi away. OP UPS happen every day.

my little brother is nothing but a high mileagle holding OP member (no status). in a recent overbook sitch, he and his entire party (4 students traveling to MAD for school) were op up'd to accommodate Y passengers with no seats.

there is no way in hell CO is going to let a plane leave with open seats and leave paid passengers sitting in the terminal b/c they dont want to op/up someone.

this is pure rumor, no matter who it came from. plane and simple.