Originally Posted by Shareholder

AC's "preferred seating" is such a farce! I just flew YYZ-YUL on an A319. The first row of economy, supposedly ultra-preferred because one should have paid $25 or be an E/SE to get it free, was full on both sides. I was the only elite and everyone else apparently had no idea about paying for their seats...which of course the didn't. The gate agent just assigned them seats in this row. Meanwhile towards the back of the plane, low and behold, dozens of rows with empty centre seats!