I've just traveled DUB-DXB-KUL as a gold member for the first time since the new seating rules and from what I can tell the app classes any exit or bulk head row as "extra leg room" and I would have to pay pre check in to pick one. At online check in I couldn't select them without charge either. Once checked in, they were all marked as taken and I couldn't select them. Get to the airport to drop the bag where they were happy to assign an extra leg room seat to me free of charge on the first leg. They couldn't do the second leg as it was too early for those seats to be released so had to wait and see what was left when I got to DXB, where in the lounge they were happy to assign any that weren't already taken. With the tight layovers though there's not always time and on full flights they'd probably already be gone...