Originally Posted by MojaveFlyer

I am glad I saw this thread. I often fly with my wife, and we've always booked window + aisle and usually in the exit row - the ability to do this is one of the few real advantages any longer of MM status (i.e., gold). Of course when someone takes the middle seat we'll offer them the window. I get up frequently so aisle is important to me. I'd be *real* annoyed to have them magically move us into window + aisle. But with covid, having an empty middle as a likely outcome sure makes flying less threatening.

So it seems the way to go is simply book on two PNRs. We have different last names so unless they dig deep this seat magic would not happen. Source of trouble in IRROPs for sure, but that's a small enough fraction of my flights that I think the risk is worth it.

It is annoying no end that this is simply done in stealth mode, however. I should be a stated policy. I know that "seat assignments are not guaranteed" but it's crap customer service.