Well for future reference for anyone else booking a flight through Ultimate Rewards: the Record Locator at the top of the itinerary you get from Ultimate Rewards is not the 6 digit Record Locator thet the airline wants. Further down in the Ultimate Rewards trip itinerary is something called the Reservation Number - also 6 digits.

By using the Reservation Number when AA.com asked for the Record Locator I was finally able to see my reservations online and more importantly: pick better seats!