Meh, what you have experienced is what I have been experiencing lately. The fee comes and goes, and my ability to pick seats (for free, MVPG here) comes and goes. The last time I contacted Alaska Listens, I was told that I was wrong, their system isn't broken, and that I was going crazy (the e-mail sounded a lot nicer, but that's the gist of the message). I only get this with their Airbuses, which makes me really hate flying them.