Preferred Seating Fee
 

Preferred seating fee is refundable if an upgrade is confirmed prior to check-in - however, this is NOT automatic, you need to call for the refund. Agent I dealt with yesterday had no idea how to do it and it took about 15 minutes on hold. Seems like a bit of a racket.

Also seems mildly unfair that the fee is not refundable if your upgrade isn't confirmed until after check-in, although I understand the logic from AC's perspective.