Originally Posted by
nitzuga
On a recent JFK-SFO flight in Basic Economy, I noticed that I could not only pay to choose a regular seat (for $9 iirc), but also pay for a preferred or MCE seat for significantly more ($70-100). I'm wondering if elite status benefits reduce the cost of choosing those preferred/ MCE seats. For example, if I had Platinum status, would the preferred and MCE seats also have shown up as costing $9?
I have mixed luck flying as gold on BE. Gate agents will not give you MCE for free like you can with regular economy, you also cannot fly standby for free or even pay the fee if you want to. In the beginning I used to have some luck at the admirals club asking to move to MCE, but I believe the last time they told me their system no longer allows them to.