Originally Posted by
PLeblond
I was under the impression that anyone can purchase these seats, regardless of status or participation in the Altitude programme.
Latitude fares and SE get them complimentary, and E50k, E75k get them at a discounted rate, but they are available to anyone for purchase.
Can anyone else confirm this, or am I just nuts?
Priority Seating and Preferred Seating are two different things.
Preferred seats have extra legroom, and work as you indicate above where anyone can pay for them and some get them discounted or free based on status/fare. Priority Seating on widebodies are normal seats with no extra legroom, but are located at the front of the aircraft. Priority seats are only available with Altitude status or purchase of Latitude fare. So the rows that OP is referring to above are Priority seats (not Preferred), and can only be booked with status or a Latitude fare.
Priority seat selection is listed as an Altitude benefit: "Take a seat at the front of the Economy Class cabin on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada rouge. Seat selection fees may apply with some fares."
https://altitude.aircanada.com/statu...ram-privileges