Originally Posted by
eponymous_coward
Unable to do this on an award: I'm an AS elite on an AS award (so I get MCE/Preferred seats for free), my traveling companion is on an AS award one way, AA award the other way, no status. So three tickets, three record locators.
Agent said couldn't move her into Preferred/MCE seats, and when I asked "OK, so can I BUY MCE for her?", said no.
Kinda funny that I can't give AA any money (you'd think they would want to upsell MCE, right?). Oh well. Maybe I can do this at the gate or something? Or is it time to HUACA?
This happened to me in reverse (AA EXP on AS metal on two different paid PNRs). Could not combine the PNRs, so I assigned myself an aisle seat up front and watched the AS seatmap closely. Some time after T-24 a middle seat opened up in front next to me and I was able to snag it for my SO. Could suggest same the strategy for AA, or call back and see if you can get a sympathetic phone agent?