That's great, until you encounter an agent who doesn't believe you have status, even when they're staring at your PNR on their screen, and accuses you of using your father's Aeroplan number.

Nothing can solve the problem of agents thinking you don't belong in that line or seat. But they should certainly question the person who's sitting in what should be an unoccupied seat. If I'm in 3D and the manifest says 3D is supposed to be occupied, I should not be the first person asked for a BP.