Originally Posted by
IAH-OIL-TRASH
Unfortunately, they had no real claim to the seats and UA has the right to move them at will. Probably best just to have grabbed the best E- seats available to avoid the risk they encountered.
Usually, the only way otherwise ineligible passengers get free E+ is if E is filled or they are accompanied on flight by a Premier. UA doesn't want people to think they paid for E+ when they find out someone next to them has been given E+ gratis due to the whim of a phone agent because only middle seats were available.
This generally rings hollow when UA GAs "upgrade" BE or standby customers into E+ seats, often exit rows beside premium customers, at the gate. I would be more interested in a holistic approach that not only prevents assignment of E+ seats to ineligible customers, but also prevents GAs from assigning any E+ seat until every E- seat has been assigned, then continues to block seats beside GS/1K members until those seats are absolutely needed to accommodate everyone.