Op-upped on Standby(?)
 

Flying SFO-JFK on Friday.
I stood by on an earlier flight using OLCI.

My confirmed flight was completely full, in all classes, probably overbooked, too. Needless to say my upgrade was waitlisted.
When standing by, I looked for a flight with the most C seats so that I could maximize my already very slim chance of being upgraded.
When I got to the gate for the standby flight, I was pleasantly surprised by the GA telling me "You are on a later flight, right? Okay, I am going to put you in business."
I wasn't sure whether she had upgraded me using my instruments (but then she would have said more, like how would you like to pay for the upgrade, etc.) but when I looked at the boarding pass she handed me, (not the stub) it said booking class:W. So I guess it's an op-up. Otherwise it would have said NC, right?

They probably would have had to take VDB's for the flight I was booked on, and economy on the standby flight seemed to be full, so it made financial sense for them to do this, but does United often op-up standby passengers?

Anyway, three op-up's on p.s. in my past 5 roundtrips, the stars must really be aligned for me! :D

I dunno about UA exactly, but with most airlines if someone VDBs, the GA might be nice and op that pax up. Almost every time I was VDB, I got an op-up.

The normal procedure in upgrading standbys requires that they clear into their ticketed cabin on the standby flight. Then they are eligible to be upgraded either with their own media, based on whatever Departure Mgt. queues are in effect or oiperationally. Once you cleared onto the earlier flight, it could only take a second for you to be op-upgraded.

for the past month or so all my upgrades have been saying my original booking class with the exception of my flight on Thursday. The Ted opup said my booking class Q and my DEN-BWI said NF. Upgrade instruments were also pulled for all the flights NF or not. I don't know if it is a glitch or new procedure.