Just to share some experiences, not quite sure whether this has been noted or not.

For the past weeks, I have had several occasions where my confirmed exit row seat was taken away and was reseated somewhere else. Don't know why but I could only guess that Continental is looking at the bottom line and try to sell those so called premium seats for some extra money. To do that, they would move people around no matter what status or ticket fare you are. I am Onepass Gold and I had my confirmed exit row seats taken away even I am flying in B fare.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand where airlines are these days and I have long given up those so called elite benefits like "unlimited domestic upgrade". The only valuable ones of being an elite are getting on the airplane a little bit earlier to find a bin to put my luggage and choose a so called premium seat while booking and then go to continental.com to find and confirm an available exit row seat after ticket confirmation.

Now Continental is doing away the exit row seat confirmation, so what is next?

Maybe elite status will become "something feel good about" without any tangible benefits.