Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Any way to get elite seats?

I have a SEA-HNL flight coing up in December with my GF that was booked as a CO award flight. Today I tried to get us seats together but only middle seats are left. I asked about getting elite seats since both of us are CO elite and also DL elite. The agent said there are elite seats availabler, but since it is an award ticket we can't get elite seats.

Is this really their rule, and can anyone suggest a way for us to get assigned these seats?

OLCI exactly 24 hours prior to departure.

I'd keep an eye on the movement of seats at the 72 hour mark and the 48 hour mark, when Golds and MVPs are eligible for upgrades (if U space is available).

If nothing's available at OLCI, prior to making Gold I had great luck asking at the Gate if any better seats were available. Lots of times I was placed into an exit row or other good seat.

Is this really their rule, and can anyone suggest a way for us to get assigned these seats?

Status match to AS. It's the new rage in the industry. (Seriously)

well odds arent good on an HNL trip. The seats are usually packed full. Your best bet is to check at 24 hours when all seats are released and hope they arent all full. You could also start to check at 72 hours prior to see if maybe(rare chance on that route) that some golds were upgraded who had originally for unknown reasons selected a dark blue seat. Good luck! I cant imagine being stuffed in a Y middle seat for 6 hours+ :eek:

Status match to AS. It's the new rage in the industry. (Seriously)yeah and they will most likely status match you again later in life. At this point and time airlines are doing anything to get you on a flight of theirs.

yeah and they will most likely status match you again later in life. At this point and time airlines are doing anything to get you on a flight of theirs.

Is this really the only way? Why won't they recognize my DL status for an award ticket?

Is this really the only way? Why won't they recognize my DL status for an award ticket?

Why do you expect AS premium seats with DL status?

Is this really the only way? Why won't they recognize my DL status for an award ticket?hmm AS aint in skyteam?? That could be why? Just a guess

Why do you expect AS premium seats with DL status?

I assume that partner airlines recognize status for each other's elites. Is that a bad assumption?

It will happen in the next few months (AS/DL mutual recognition for elite seat selection). It used to work for NW; they are switching it over to DL.

I assume that partner airlines recognize status for each other's elites. Is that a bad assumption?

More or less, but apparently especially when it involves AS.
My experience is mostly AA/AS and neither recognize each other in any meaningful (UGs or priority seating) way.

I assume that partner airlines recognize status for each other's elites. Is that a bad assumption?

It is a bad assumption between AS and DL today, although a (delayed) marketing integration program promises greater benefits, probably after the DL+NW reservations systems integration is complete. (February 2010, give or take a month.)

...probably after the DL+NW reservations systems integration is complete. (February 2010, give or take a month.)

Even that, IMHO, is an optimistic estimate.

I assume that partner airlines recognize status for each other's elites. Is that a bad assumption?no and yes. If its somebody like skyteam or one world or star alliance then yes. If you are talking about a stand alone like AS then sometimes no sometimes yes. They have a different agreement with each airline thats their partner

I just want to post a follow up on my method of success at getting better seats:

After a half dozen or so calls to AS with no luck, the final call was an agent that suggested stopping by an AS counter next time I passed by one at an airport. She said that they had control of certain seats and with some sweet talking maybe they'd give us 2 seats together. So last week I was in SAN and tried this and it worked! The agent (after some light begging) moved us to 2 seats together in row 10, which I assume are elite seats.

So there is some info that may prove useful to others in the future.