Here's a related situation. I'm EXP, fiancee has no status. On a future flight, I'm on a FC award ticket, she's on a paid coach ticket (hoping to use one of my eVIPs). If the upgrade doesn't clear, of course she can have the FC seat and I'll take the coach seat.

But here's the situation: because we aren't in the same cabin, I cannot choose premium coach (i.e. exit row) seats for her ticket! If we were in the same PNR, or in the same cabin on two different PNR's, then she with no status would have access to the premium coach seats.

Yet it doesn't seem right that an EXP can't choose seats, when in all likelihood I will be flying in the seats associated with HER ticket.

Has anyone else ever faced this same situation (travel companion in a different PNR, and not allowed to choose premium coach seats)? If so, how did you get around the problem?