Originally Posted by
yvrgary
OW is happy to provide this at the Sapphire (*G-equivalent) level, I'd be curious to know why *A doesn't feel it's appropriate to do the same.
I'd assume it's because the airlines can charge for it. Also, how would they reconcile that with the current scheme on AC? E50K, which is *G, only gets 50% off preferred seats on international Flex fares. Only S100K gets free preferred seats on Tango. I'd be pretty annoyed as an AC Elite if a UA*G came along and got a free seat from AC. But that's where another *A level could work. If it's only given to the 100k levels, then only a UA 1K would get the free preferred seats on AC.
Even something like "free preferred seats at check-in for *G if the flight is full" would be nice. Rather than giving them to people who don't have an assigned seats, let the foreign *G take them.
Heck, a benefit I'd like is "free advance seat selection on all airlines on any fare".
It's all the little things that make the difference to me.