I just booked a flight on alaskaair.com (marketed by AS, operated by AA) and added my AS MVP # at time of booking. Tried to select exit rows but could only see the standard seating on AA.com/Alaskaair.com (No preferred or Preferred+ showing). Called AA and they said the same thing about me "booking through an outside agency", whatever that means. With my AS MVP #, AA was going to charge me to select exit rows.
Even weirder, the AA agent removes my AS # and adds my AA Gold #.. still couldn't select exit row for me w/o some kind of charge.. again, due to "outside agency booking" nonsense. Went online and selected the exit row seats myself after that.
What kind of partnership is this??