Well, here's an update on my talks with MPC and AA regarding my wish to get my companion (on award ticket issued with Asia Miles, travelling on AA) an advanced seat reservation next to my paid booking with AA. MPC said that they cannot block off any specific seat, and can only request that "passenger A be next to passenger B", and it is up to AA whether to honor this request. Two weeks after MPC made this request to AA, still no reply from AA.

I also called AA about this during the last few days, and I have had conflicting information. One agent said that they can't even see the booking because it wasn't with an AA record locator. Another agent called up my companion's booking by using her name, but said that they were unable to assign her any seat because the booking was an CX award booking. A third agent (much more helpful) said that she COULD assign seats, but would need to charge me USD 15 on a U.S./Canadian credit card. Unfortunately, while I was searching for my credit card, the line got cut off, and I couldn't even remember the agent's name. A fourth call to AA found yet another different agent who also said she couldn't assign the seats.

So, what's the "right" answer, and what can I do now to assure that my companion and I are seated together. In total, we are flying three domestic sectors on AA. The flights are in mid-September, and even now, looking at AA's seatmaps for the flights, the seats are filling up fast.