Interesting. Most of the flights I've called about (Korea in winter) seem to be quite open - I wonder if they'll fill up later. I've asked telephone agents about aisle seats with middle seats open next to them - and there are a number of choices. I'm not status on United, so I'd have to pay for an E+ seat - the regular seats on KE seem better, and especially if I can get an aisle with an open seat next to it - nothing like that available at the moment from SFO-ICN on UA.