Your conclusions are flawed.

Just because you don't know how to pick seats on CO is no excuse for accusing the agents of "upselling", and even more dramatically, "they only show singles and centers open". Those are the only seats open....do you really think CO keeps some hidden seats for selling?

My parents, who are non-elite, get seats together all the time, because they(I) know that all seats open up at T-24.

I find it hard to believe someone who flies once a week doesn't know the ins and outs of each airline and how to score seats.

My guess:

1. All of the non-elite seats were sold out on your route, hence you could not pick seats in advance.

2. You called in instead of simply picking your seat at T-24.

3. You don't notice "every week" on the other airlines since you're flying alone and many airlines don't have this "elite" separation.


Oh, and btw, in case you didn't know (clearly you don't): CO doesn't actively sell "elite" seats, except for bulkheads and exit rows. Only US charges for aisle seating in advance, and UA is the one that has E+. CO has neither.

Still care to make the same accusations?