As of GNOME 3.12 gnome-classic session is selected by setting a GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE environment variable. upstream this is set in the gnome-session desktop file, however when using upstart user sessions this file gets bypassed and hence the gnome-classic session just loads a standard gnome-shell session.
We need to make sure this variable is set in the upstart user session as well
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.10
Package: gnome-session 3.9.90-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-22.29-generic 3.16.4
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-22-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.7-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Wed Oct 15 13:16:56 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-06-27 (110 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.10 "Utopic Unicorn" - Alpha amd64 (20140520)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
TERM=xterm
PATH=(custom, no user)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-session
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.