Have the following issue across various booking channels (App, website, call center): when I try to make a flex plus award booking in Y, the system does not allow seat assignments to be made in the preferred zone for free, but insists on charging the normal seat selection fee. This is clearly contrary to EK‘s own rules, even as confirmed on screen at the beginning of the booking process, according to which preferred seats (other than A380 Y upper deck or 777 Y twin or Y extra legroom, obviously). So far the call center has not been able to figure out why this is happening (they have the same issue when they try to book instead of me).

Anyone else have this experience? Wondering if this is systematic (in which case Ek would be taking pax for a ride even before the flight ), or just a one-off glitch.