Wow, I can't believe we are really discussing this. Of course it shoul be by status, I can't believe any rational person would view it otherwise. Let's face facts -- some people are a**holes, some people are stupid, and some people are both. I think it is this last type that MRJ ran into.

All that notwithstanding, a couple of good points are brought up:
1. All airlines in general could be better about explaining how upgrades work to passengers.
2. All airlines in general could do a better job of training agents on proper policies.
2.