Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
Interesting though, purchase the preferred seating and at check-in select E+ seating for free (better leg space). UA may refund Preferred seating fee (or may not) since you did not make use of the preferred seating. Have no idea this will work but see no downside.
Is UA really charging $132 for no-extra-legroom preferred seating? I think the only way to get 132 PQP on an upcoming flight via seat purchase fees would be to purchase E+, which is explicitly not refundable for a Silver member.
Also, I don’t think any seating PQP would post until after the flight is actually taken. The benefit of spending $132 on seating fees on trip A is to receive Silver benefit at checkin for upcoming trip B, instead of having to wait to earn Silver on trip B and then use it on the following trip C.