CO flight 11 from CDG to IAH on March 13th. When I checked in at the gate they had 6 BF empty at 11:45 a.m. according to the PC available in the AF lounge in terminal 2A.

While at the gate 4 people were called up prior to boarding and in exchange for a $10.00 fee received seats 9A, 9B, 9D and 9E. Once boarded I noticed that 9K and 9L were empty - I was seated in 16D. Once the door was shut and the two seats were still empty I asked the FA if I could move up front. With a stern smile he replied that that is something that is decided by the concierge and he has no control over it. BTW, if anybody flies the IAH-CDG route, flight 10 is notoriously late to arrive and flight 11 is always late to depart. I usually give myself about 2 hours for a connection and so far I have yet to make one with my luggage. I either miss my connection entirely or I barely make it and my luggage makes in the next flight.