I am flying in June to LHR from ORD through YYZ on AC. While trying to get seat assignments the agent informed me that certain seats in Economy are reserved for those with elite status with Aeroplan and that my *Gold (UA) would not be sufficient.

Is this true? Mostly I fly internationally on United but this time AC worked better for me. Any info would be appreciated.

So now you know how AC is treating other *G passengers... don't give them your bussiness.

Is it an award ticket you are travelling on?

AC don't offer Y+ like UA do, so you're not really missing out on anything. In fact on some types in AC's fleet, those "preferred" seats are actually the worst in the plane. (Some of the fleet the legroom is worse than regular rows and some of the longhaul fleet you have a galley at the start of the "preferred" section with a toilet block just a few rows back at the end of the "preferred" section, which causes nothing but light, noise, smell and mingling passengers in "your" space - not the best combination for a restful flight.)

AC does, however, offer 34" for every seat row in the "Why?" cabin which is a step up from the 31" UA give you if Y+ is not available.
Check out the AC forum at the top of the list - one of the sticky's at the top of the thread lists inside the forum actually has a very good thread on "best seats for aircraft type", or similar.
Cheers.

You need to call again and get another agent. They should be able to see your Star Gold status in your record if you provided one. I flew SQ as a Star Gold and was given all seat choices that I had requested for without any issues at all. And I confirmed with SQ if they could see my status in their systems and they verified that they could see it. Cheers. ^

If its an award ticket, then ones status will not be considered.

Really? this is the first time I heard this. Is this only an AC thing or to all *A airlines?

Perhaps this is true for AC, but I was seated in NZ Premium Economy on a regular AKL-SYD Y award last November; both the checkin agent and the FA stated this was because of my *G status.

I am 1K with UA, but frequently travel USAir as well.. Over the last 2 years, I've called USAir on NUMEROUS occasions to get preferred seating with the *Gold status that 1K incurs... Until tonight, that has NEVER been even slightly questioned... now, suddenly, I get a USAir agent that tells me that *Gold does NOT entitle one to preferred seating on any airline except the one that they hold their mileage program with (in my case, UA)... Anyone come across this before?? I can't find anything in the Star Alliance site that confirms that preferred seating is available across the alliance with *Gold status, and the USAir agent says "It's always been this way." I've just never had the seating denied since reaching *Gold status.

Welcome to FT, Rockytop!

The standard FR mantra is... if you don't get the answer you know is right, politely say "thank you, goodbye" and call back.

Note, however, that preferred seating is not a *A benefit. Each airline makes its own decision on that. For the official benefits, see http://www.staralliance.com/en/benef...silver-status/.