In Colombia now and had a few flights on AV while I was here. Probably too much flying around for a short trip!

Ticket 1: Bought tickets w Points. Checked in with Kiosk at Bogota airport and after adding my UA*S number, I could select seats in the first 3 rows which are kinda like business class. Win! I think it came with a checked bag but I carried on both my bags.

Ticket 2: Bought w points. Forgot to add my UA# when I did online check-in, didn't seem possible after that. Check-in agents were not able to upgrade me. "Only diamond" whatever that means.

Ticket 3: Bought XS fare with cash. Added my UA# in my reservation. Didn't do online check-in, went to the Kiosk and no problem selecting the up-front seats for both the flights.

Ticket "4": I'm pretty sure end of last year that I was able to select one of those first few row seats on my United ticket back home when I did online check-in. Since the Kiosk def did work, and the agents def didn't work, I didn't want to chance it with online check-in as I had 2 flights and one was long (haha 1.5 hrs in Colombia is about as long as you get).

Next time I'll have to brave the online check-in to see how that works. Interesting that there does seem to be a loophole, or perhaps the check-in agents just don't know. I am not complaining, the "biz" class seats are def more comfy. Doesn't seem to come with any other perk besides the space.