Originally Posted by ijgordon

Since it says this on the CO website:
Full Economy Fare Upgrade Rewards
Full Economy Fare Upgrade Rewards allow you to upgrade to First Class, Business Class or BusinessFirst with the purchase of Economy fares booked in Y class. Full Economy Fare Upgrade Rewards are capacity-controlled, and standby at the airport is not permitted. Full Economy Fare Upgrade Rewards do not require as many miles as Select Economy Fare Upgrade Rewards.

If what you say is true, then it was most likely a mistake. It happens. I know someone who was once charged zero miles for a transatlantic upgrade reward.

H fares have never been "full fare". Sometimes they are refundable and similarly flexible to Y fares, but not always.