Had my first experience with BE last week. Was on business down in Miami and was asked by another client if I could pop over to Tampa for a meeting. It was either drive 4.5 hours or fly MIA-TPA. Regular economy was $240 one way and BE was $67 one way. Decided to test out the BE process.

Booked BE about 36 hours out - the website repeatedly warns you that the fare is a BE fare and gives you the warnings about what to expect and what you can and cannot do. Its quite clear. Ticket booked and no option to chose a seat. At about 12 hours out I decided to check in. Check in process was simply and I was unilaterally assigned 28E. Yikes. Can't remember the last time I've been in a 737 with a seat assignment above 20!

Got to the airport on time (about 55 minutes out) and was allowed to check in my checked bag (no fee for plats). Asked front counter agent to change my seat since I could see from the mobile app that there were at least 20 to 30 seats open in coach - including the entire exit row and many MCE seats (including rows 7 and 8).

Agent told me they could not book me into a seat other than the assigned seat without a fee and that the only one who could do it sans fee was an agent at the gate.

My BP showed zone "3" - commensurate with my elite status.

Got to the gate right at T-30 minutes. Asked agent to change the seat assignment since boarding was just started. After a minute or so of checking, he have me 18F. Certainly better than 28E. I know that several seats up in the MCE part of the flight were still open, but I wasn't going to ask for yet another reaccommodation.

For a short flight of 1 hour, the experience was bearable. Not sure if I'd do it with a family or with a travel companion who wants to be seated together. Fare savings certainly was worth it - nearly $200 off the standard coach fare.