Friend just got Gold. Check in is 24 hours and all remaining MCE seats were available to her. In fact, that was a 787 DFW-DUB RT, so many were taken, but she managed to get a bulkhead window (which she wanted), and sleep. When I was Gold it was also 24 hours and all remaining. Caveat is exit seat requirements as any day. Are exit seats excluded? On my past several flights at least some exit seats were not taken even when I checked in, and I select at booking. Either way, MCE on larger planes sometimes is located in two areas as well. Just make sure you choose the orange ones. The green ones are the same old seat with a dollar sign. Benefits.