MSPeconomist

IMO a lot depends on how the traveling companion(s) is entitled to the Y+/exit/preferred seat. If a fee is paid for the seat, then people should be able to sit where they please. Similarly, if everyone is an elite and is entitled to the special seat as a published elite benefit for the individual's status tier, no problem: pick seats where you please. However, if one person has status and is bringing others into the special seats for free, then the people should be willing to sit together. In fact, this should be written into policy and enforced by the computer. My bottom line is that 7A & 7C are fine if both have paid for the seats (although social distancing would suggest that it would be better if they were seated together rather than having a random stranger sitting in the middle seat). Similarly, if both 7A and 7C hold their own 1K status, for instance, again no problem (with the same COVID-19 comment). However, if one person holds elite status and the companion has no status, then it's 7A/7B or 7B/7C, not 7A/7C or 7C/7D, etc.

The purpose of UA's special seating for companions feature is to please the elite by enabling him/her to sit together with friends and family. Chances are that when the nonstatus companion takes one of the best seats, it's at the expense of another elite who later purchases a more expensive ticket on the same flight.