[QUOTE=exymer]
Originally Posted by XStAnt
I have to say his "experiment" regarding seat availability was not a valid test for elite benefits. I don't know any FF program that gives elites a different choice of seats than a non-elite flyer. Airlines want to sell seats and if they have one available they'll sell it to anyone. Hasn't that always been the case?
CO offers "better" seat selection to elites. Start the booking process on CO logged in as non-elite. When you get to the seat selector, click on it. If you're flying on most fares (perhaps anything other than Y) and you're not elite, you'll see a bunch of seats at the front of the plane that are blue. You won't be able to select those. Occasionally there are regular seats mixed in with the blues, but as a general rule the entire front section is designated "premium" and is unavailable to non-elites. You'll be stuck in the back with the riff raff.
Elites can pick any of the blues on any fare, as far as I can tell.