I have a question about seat selection. . . The FAQ says:
Q: Can I purchase Preferred Seats when traveling on a Business Extra flight award?
A: Preferred Seats are not available for purchase to passengers traveling on Business Extra PlanAhead tickets.
So, not even EXP or CK members can select a preferred (or MCE) seat on a PlanAhead award?
Seems hard to believe - and I didn't find any reference to "preferred seats" in this thread, so perhaps I'm just reading it incorrectly.
You're reading it incorrectly.
CK/EXP/PLT can of course select preferred or MCE seats on a Business Extra award just like any other ticket. These seats are offered complimentary, they don't have to "purchase" them.
But for any no-status passenger that has to pay for preferred seats, the option to do so is not available on Business Extra awards, just like it is not available on normal AAdvantage awards.