Before I write an angry letter to Gordon et al at Continental, please let me know if you think I'm crazy:

For what I think is the third time in the past 12-18 months, I was separated from my fiancee on an EWR-LAX flight by the EUA system. I am Silver Elite and was upgraded, while my fiancee was left behind in a middle seat in coach (8B). I realized this about 2.5 hrs before my flight was scheduled to leave, and asked CO to give me back my original seat (8A) - I was told the flight was sold out and that they could move me back to coach but that I'd be separated from my fiancee. I had to go through about 5 people just to get Seat 8A back. Now you'd think this would be a simple fix, right? No. Here's why. The redcoats refused to simply move the person they had given 8A to into First Class - instead, they moved 8A to the back of the plane (a middle seat, I believe), and gave the person off the top of the waiting list my first class seat. And the switch didn't get done until we got on the plane, as soon after I sat down, there was another person with an 8A boarding pass.

So, yes, it all got worked out. But only after about 2.5 hours of begging and 2.5 hours of attitude from CO employees who couldn't seem to believe that I'd rather sit with my fiancee in coach than CO's relatively unimpressive first class. One even had the nerve to tell me that I should not have entered my OnePass number when I bought the ticket if I didn't want the upgrade - have you ever heard a more ridiculous suggestion?

Anyway, as to CO agents seemed to think I was nuts, please let me know if you agree with my assessment: I booked 8A, I should have been entitled to keep 8A without having to go through all the rigmarole. I look forward to your thoughts.