Silver is very easy to obtain - Gold is easy to obtain really...

If you pay for J you get J, if you pay for Y you get Y..... If you pay for Y but get J, that is something.. The amount of times I have had the seat blocked off next to me from MAN to DOH just for someone to ask to sit next to me because the seat is closer to the toilet.... GGGGRRRR Then I think again, I only paid £500 for my seat.

If you reserved a seat within 48 hours of your flight and you did not get it... I would be annoyed, but explain this at the point of check in... They will always upgrade Gold FF who has not reserved seats first, then silver and then full Y.