I understand that as an (new)Elite member I get Preffered seating?

How early in advance am I allowed to pick seats in the Y class cabin on an international flight?

I have booked a flight for April (AC 1 and AC 2) on an A340 and I am trying to get bulkhead seat 12A on both flights.

Does anyone know when I will be allowed to pick out seats? or if I would be allowed to get anytime soon as an Elite?

Also, I have 2 segments on United for this trip. Does anyone know their policies regarding seat assignments in Y for AP Elite members?

Thanks,
Jason

I believe you can pick your seats anytime before flight time even if you are not ticketed. I don't think your status makes a difference.

Anyone can pick their Y seats when they make a booking. However some seats are not released by the airline until the last minute at check-in (bulkhead, front rows etc.) unless you have special requests such as tight transfers, babies, or upper-tier FFs.

The benefit you will get from the Elite/SE tier is blocked seats. AC will block out the seat next to you if pax loading permits. Happens to me all the time flying to & from HKG.

The first 5-8 rows or so of Coach (incl. bulkheads and exit rows) will only be available for pre-selection by P/E/SEs only. For example, when you look on ITN, the fowrward rows are green (as opposed to blue) and when you click on them, they say "these seats are reserved for elite level members only. please ensure you input your membership number". So a Basic member cannot reserve those seats (they can, but then it'll be cancelled ).

And check-in agents will try to give you an empty seat next to you in coach, as ssw207 has already mentioned, load permitting. You can make the selection at the time of reservation.

As for UA, you can phone UA and reserve Economy Plus (domestic only) as long as your Star Gold status shows up on their res system. Eco Plus is first come, first served for all Star Gold/Silver plus Full-fare pax.