It's going to be a Cluster F. They had a winning operational formula that worked well and are now messing with it. The only flaw was a A Lister and/or BS customer stuck in the middle seat because of late incoming connecting flight.

And its simply to monetize seat selection, they don't give a damn what the "surveys" or twice a year flyers say.

I was AL+ for 8 years and never received a survey. Preboarders did not bother me.

That's my take on it.