Originally Posted by
skipmnyc
Following the examples of others, above, I called the elite line, and got a rather lazy sounding agent who claimed that all those seats went to mileage upgraders, and [EUA] never ran as a result.
It's quite possible -- remember that mileage upgrades are prioritized ahead of all free elite upgrades, and elites can waitlist for these upgrades (until the waitlist expires 24 hours prior to departure). I know I've gotten my non-elite travel companion upgraded (with my miles) this way when I've been stuck in the back.
As for the OP, a plat getting passed over for a gold, well that's just messed up.