Having logged over 1 million miles on Alaska, I'm surprised that I have no recollection of ever having been paged by the gate agent to switch seats except for a row 6 situation to help out a physically challenged passenger. I've just been lucky, I guess.

Those of us who fly a lot and consistently book aisle seats - or choose NOT to sit in row 4 - have well established and good reasons for doing so. This desire to always be near your traveling companion seems awfully needy to me. While I reckon there's no harm in asking someone if they'd be willing to switch seats, I personally think that anyone upgraded should be thankful for that alone.

Paging me by name at the gate wouldn't bother me so much - thankfully nobody knows or cares who I am, anyway - but aside from that I'm with you 100%, Eastbay1K.