Originally Posted by
milesandmoremiles
there’s absolutely no difference between a preferred seat and a preferred seat with the *. It’s just a small but nice benefit for elite members that not all of the preferred seat assignments can be purchased by non elites .
Not just preferred seats, but even normal seats too. Some standard seats, especially aisles and windows in the rear of the plane, are reserved for elites even if they would otherwise be free for non-elites to select.