Oddly, best results have been short-haul Y where Ms Raffles gold is getting us the emergency exit rows.

On my only BA long haul (NYC in June) 62J/K gone but A/B OK.

CE shorthauls have been OK (A/C) but never had problems with this before, either. My corporate TA insists on sticking me in a DEF though so I need to change it everytime on my occasional £560 CE flights to Paris!

On the 1 dom return, I had to call BAEC to release Row 1 which was blocked even though there was a Gold in the booking.

To be honest, minimal difference although it will save scrambling around for a PC to OLCI. I worry a bit about loss of status, however, although Silver renewal should be OK this year - something always seems to come up! There is a risk I will find myself with lots of miles and no status and thus struggling for seats on redemption bookings and I-class CE tickets which will not be nice.