thanks... for those who keep track of this stuff or are stam interested, heres an update:
got to airport less than two hours before the flight (about 40 min after shabbos) and a very nice agent was able to get her to PR1 after calling the help desk and working on it for 10-15 minutes. so she (this was for my wife) was #1 on list and as of less than hr before flight there were still 2 seats hadn't checked in. was getting hopeful, but then on mobile app it said it was checked in full a few minutes later, about 40 min before. but on computer at united.com it still said one seat available. she went to ticket counter at gate and they said its full, when she mentioned online was one available they said "its for crew rest." i thought that sounded pretty shady, but she said non of the gate agents were being helpful or even friendly. after she asked them she went down on the list a few spots (no new ppl added, just dropped below the people she had just been in front of on the list! she asked about it but they told her she was never supposed to be on top of the list anyway. and refused to do anything for her. ended up speaking to someone else who at least gave her economy plus, but the experience with gate agents and their seemingly blocking a seat for crew use was pretty frustrating.
think worth asking for some compensation from them or does this not warrant that?