It's interesting you mention whoever had the shiniest card. If 2DF are deemed the better seats on the GATx aircraft then I'm wondering why weren't 2DF seat shifted back to row 5 in order to make way for 1A man if these suddenly became the best seats in the bus? Unless 2DF status/CIV trumped that of the OP possibly and why he lost out. I fly this route 5-6 times a year and as a gold (with a mediocre CIV) moved from 1F to 4C in this situation. Presumably as that was the furthest forward seat available. This is why I always try and select 1AC in the first place now - to reduce chances of the 1DF effect, although in my personal experience I more often then not end up on ex BMI birds..... luck of the draw I guess....