Seat assignments = $200 per leg on rewards
Continental joined new "Star Alliance" with United.
Booked international reward travel thru Continental - United handling overseas flight (as Star Alliance partner). Called United for seat assignments - 2 months ahead of time.
United will not assign seats until day of flight for their trans-Atlantic legs.
Wife and I are likely to not sit together (so late getting seats).
United would only seat us if we purchased $200. extra fee (for "5 inch extra room" seat upgrade) - for each of the trans-Atlantic legs.
I have elite status. United's final answer came back after running my Continental elite# (note: it is valid).
This is a new policy, using their new leverage - never had problem with numerous other (shared) international reward flights with Continental and their previous partner network (and didn't have elite status then).
Customer service will degrade after a Continental & United merger. They will have a stronger strong-arm for adding-on fees. Reward loyalty isn't there, and elite is not elite.
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