I'm flying to Europe later this week with my wife as part of a combined work/pleasure trip. Because of this, we are on two separate record locators - one booked through my corporate travel office, and a separate booking for her. I booked her flight a few days ago, and now have my booking, but in the interim period a few other bookings have clearly occurred, as the cabin (WT+) is somewhat fuller.

MMB won't let me snag the seat next to her - one of the two middle in a group of four, with her in the other middle. But I know the seat is available - I see it in ExpertFlyer, and if I try a new dummy booking, it offers me that seat as a choice! My hypothesis is that the person on the aisle is perhaps an elite and it's trying to keep that seat available until the last moment.

If I call into the call center, is there any chance they'll override the algorithm for me? Obviously I'll explain our plight on the day of to the adjoining passengers if necessary.