Originally Posted by ijgordon
As others have hinted, this is absolutely untrue. They can certainly tell you if the proper class inventory ("R" I think) is available whether you have a reservation or not. They cannot, however, hold that inventory for you until it the flight is ticketed and paid for, IIRC. That might have been the source of the apparent miscommunication between you and the res agent. Flyertalk Rule #1 -- if you don't like what you hear, hang up and call back again.
Most of your other complaints probably have at least some validity though...
I was told this twice ("won't tell you until you ticket"). On my second call back, I did book the flight, and then was told I was waitlisted! (H-fare). And BF on the seating chart looked wide-open. (Agent also told me they would waive the $5 service charge; of course, it DID show up on my CC bill!)
My return GIG-IAH finally did clear, but IAH-CLE has not (always hate to end a trip in coach - takes the nice edge off the BF portion). Flight down is still waitlisted. Which raises another question. If not cleared within 5 days of the flight, who gets the priority (for the IAH-CLE domestic leg), a Platinim or a BF passenger??