Hello LAN experts. I am curious about seat selection on LAN 801 (SCL-AKL). We are halfway through our trip and flying home next week LIM-SCL-AKL-CHC (in economy) and I am trying to choose seats (the focus is on the SCL-AKL leg as it's 12 hours). I have tried four methods: Lan.com, Lan ticket office in Lima, Call Centre and Priceline (they booked the tickets). All the Lan sources tell me that seat selection is only available at check-in, which starts 48 hours prior to departure (priceline told me only upon check-in at the airport). That's annoying, but if that's the policy then I'm happy to get there early to have the best selection. However, I can see on Expert Flyer that around 80% of the seats in economy are labelled as "occupied". So clearly most people have been able to choose a seat.

So my question to you all is, what do you think is at play here? Is it:

• Passengers who book directly with LAN get seat selection, others don't
• Passengers who book with Priceline don't get seat selection
• Passengers who pay more for their tickets get seat selection (this one is unlikely as we paid well above what we'd usually pay for the same flight, even given it's the peak time of the year. For that price, I'd expect to be able to choose some seats in advance)
• We have no OW status anymore, and 80% of the flight does have status and this is why they can select their seats

Or any other reason?

If anyone has any tips or tricks, I'm very keen to hear

Thanks!