[verall]

AA will make you pay extra to "choose your own seat" ($75-$150 extra per ticket for basic economy -> main cabin) and then block off all but 3 rows as "premium seats" so that you can pay $30+/leg/person to sit with your party/travel companion after paying already paying extra. Better get to the airport early and beg the gate attendant or spend an additional $240+ (1 layover, 2 passengers)!

If you book a codeshare they don't even try to let you choose, they simply put in the fine print that the choosing your own seat perk "may not apply to partner airlines".

I hate it.