Okay, at least I desperately need E+...

I'm UA 1K and AS MVPG. For paid domestic travel, I'm required to book in coach.

On UA, I hope for F, which I'd say I get about 55-65 percent of the time. If I don't get F, then I take an exit row seat, and that happens about 20-30 percent of the time. If neither of those, then I go into E+. I literally can't remember the last time I was in a non-F, non-exit row, non-E+ seat on UA.

On AS, I hope for F, which I'd say I get about 30-40 percent of the time, with transcons lower than West Coast flights. If I don't get F, the only other decent option is exit row seating, and I'd say that happens maybe 10-20 percent of the time -- AS exit rows fill up early. If I don't make F or exit row, then it's into a regular coach seat, and that happens on probably half of my flights or close to it.

Now, this is a big deal to me because I'm 6'2". Most of my flying is to the East Coast. Five hours in 32" pitch is not a fun thing when you're as tall as I am. In fact, it's miserable.

I've been telling myself this has been happening because I have to make many of my reservations at the last minute. But I just reserved SEA-DCA-SEA flights two weeks out and not only is F booked, not only are the exit rows taken, but as of now I'm in middle seats in both directions.

At this point I'm kicking myself. With DEQMs, I'm at 81K miles this year on UA, and given the international travel I have planned, 1K is automatic. So I figured I'd put some mileage in on AS to make sure I maintain MVPG this year. But for what? So I can sit in E- some more? So I can sit in middle seats some more?

Don't get me wrong here. AS is a solidly run airline with great employees, most of whom clearly love working there and let it show. I enjoy my interactions with them. And I'm proud of my hometown airline. But all of that falls by the wayside if I'm spending five hours in an E- middle seat -- or any E- seat, for that matter, since I won't be able to open my computer. UA may have bad management and unhappy employees, but I can shut that all out when I'm sitting in F or E+. E+ keeps me coming back to UA again and again.

So, AS, please think about this. I was MVPG last year. I'll probably be MVPG again this year -- I'll only need three more RTs to the East Coast in the next six months. But at some point I'll start asking myself why I'm doing this. Much more of this E- stuff and I'll avoid AS unless I'm positive I'm going to be upgraded. And that means I'll drop down to MVP. And then I'll never get upgraded on a transcon again, so I'll pretty much be done with AS except for the occasional flight down to SFO or LAX.

Many, many UA fliers will tell you that they stick with UA, despite the problems, on sole account of E+. And it's not just UA. B6 A320s have a minimum 34" pitch, and one can buy 38" pitch in the first few rows for an add-on fee. I'd be okay with that, even as an elite. You can tap me for another $20-30 out of my pocket and I'll happily pay it. Look! A new revenue opportunity for you.

Please? I'm asking nicely. :-)