I have just been told by CO that they don't give any advance priority seating to *Gold?

In the past I have always been given advance priority seating. Is this a new policy? I thought all * Golds got access to these seats?!

Thanks!

what is a priority seat? closer up front?

Correct - there are many seats held back for Elite members that I thought were also open to * Gold card holders.

Important for me in this case as I am travelling with family of 5 and otherwise we won't be able to sit together...

My understanding is that these seats are only available to CO and UA elites, that is until 24 hours to go before your flight, when they open up to anyone.

Just to be clear, these are not E+ seats, they do not have more legroom or better IFE, service, etc.

It's just the front of the economy section.

If you're flying with a large group, on most CO flights, I think you will actually find more availability in the non-priority seats in the back of the cabin, since there are often so many elites and they quickly fill up the "elite" seats.

It's so bad that some elites actually go out of their way to assign themselves a seat in the non-priority section because they have a better chance of sitting next to an empty seat and getting a little more space in the overhead baggage compartment.

On some flights there is 1 advantage -- power outlets only go back to 21.

That's true, but if the OP's main concern is getting 6 seats together, I think he/she will have an easier time in the kettle section.

On this flight there are dozens of empty seats in the priority section and only pairs together in the "kettle" section...

Can you confirm that the agent was correct and that *Gold members have no access to these seats?

Correct. You may have better luck at check-in, when I think the restriction goes away.

Right, however, by that point there is a good chance the elite section will be just as full, if not more full.

When are you flying? You can always try calling (a few times) to see if you can get an agent to bend the rules.

When I bought a CO ticket recently I was able to select one of the priority seats as a *G.

The restriction goes away when OLCI (On Line Check In) kicks in at 24 hours to go, The only exception is for the ELR (Extra Leg Room) seats (basically the exit rows and/or bulkheads) which require an extra fee to be paid.

Was this more than 24 hours out? And were you able to select them on the website or through an gent?

I've found myself on CO a number of times this year and have also been able to select priority seats in advance for some flights--but only when booking via Expedia. For flights I've booked on continental.com or Orbitz, I've either been unable to select priority seats at all until check-in (continental.com) or kicked back into non-priority seats after requesting priority seats (Orbitz). In addition, at one point while flying a domestic CO itin shortly before an upcoming international itin where I was in the very back of the bus, I asked a friendly TA to see if he could move me to a priority seat on the int'l flights to save me some time in the customs/immigration line. He apologized and said that my request for priority seats wouldn't stick until check-in (at which point I successfully snagged a window in the second row of Y).

In sum, YMMV, although you may find yourself able to secure advance priority seats through Expedia.

Correct; no reciprocal seating benefits with Star Alliance members except CO with UA; You will get priority boarding with your *A gold card but not seating.
You can pay for the exit rows now and have your entire group (as long as the youngest is 15 or more) sit together in an exit row but that costs $.

When you get to the airport and check-in at the Elite counter, if you ask very nicely the CO rep may sit you all together in the front of the Y cabin. As somebody already said it does not have more legroom (like UA E+ does) but on some planes there are outlets if that is important for you.

Since you will board with the elite group, you should be OK with the luggage space.