Originally Posted by
canadiancow
You have three fares. YLW-YVR is its own fare. The last two letters, TG, mean it's Standard, and you have to pay for seat selection unless you have some level of AC status (I can't recall what you need these days).
So you're getting what you paid for.
If you had purchased a YLW-SFO fare (in J), I am fairly confident you would have free seat selection, possibly with free preferred seats
But yes, if you buy a Standard fare, and don't have AC status, you do not get free seat selection.
Status doesn't matter on an UA booked fare on AC in Y. I flew YYZ-CVG last week and AC wanted to charge me for seat selection. I explained to the agent that I was 50K and seat selection was free and the agent didn't care. At check-in, I was able to select any seat including preferred, as per 50K benefits.