I am writing you for advice and appreciate your insight and experience. I recently booked a *flight leaving for May/June from LAX-London-VCE via British Airways operated by British Airways, and *a flight returning MIL-JFK-LAX via "British Airways operated by American Airlines." The four round-trip tickets were bought 50% via Chase Reward Points and 50% via credit card payment w/my Chase Visa Card.

(1) I was able to reserve seats for myself, wife, and two young children on the British Airways flight leaving LAX to London and then Venice by going on the British Airways site - paying $228 more to do so in total. Of note, the Chase Rewards website did not allow me to book seats on their site for the flight leaving LAX-London-Venice.

(2) I was unable to reserve seats for the return flight: MIL-JFK-LAX via "British Airways operated by American Airlines." (a) The Chase Rewards site did not save the seats. (b) I called British Airways, and they told me to call American Airlines - as it is 'booked by BA but operated by AA.' (c) I used the 6 digit flight code and went on the American Airlines site, and it has already reserved seats in scattered locations/not together and the seat chart showed that all other seats were blocked out. No option to pay for a seat for given. (d) I called American Airlines, and they stated that they could not give me a specific seat. The AA operator then called British Airways in our conversation, and the AA operator responded back to me that British Airways stated that I could not book a seat through them as I 'bought the flight from Chase Rewards,' (e) I called back Chase Rewards, and I have been told then they could not do anything for me. They stated that I could (e1) arrive early to the airport on the flight of leaving Milan to try and gets seats together as '10% seats are blocked for families and couples that wish to be together on arrival at airport,' (e2) call back American Airlines and more or less beg for mercy. This 'supervisor/Chelsea' on Chase Rewards stated that she understands my situation but cannot do anything to help me reserve seats.

I briefly searched forums and did not see that others have had this issue. Would you have advice on anything that I can do reserve seats on the flight returning from Milan-JFK-LAX? I sincerely appreciate your help in advance.