EVA replied and tried to find a solution

This is where the query gets trickier. In case you look at the seating configuration on a 777-300ER, the plane that is being flown, you'll see that the configuration is seats, seats, seats. What Phan desires is a two-across stool that is not in Row 27. (SeatGuru.com, an airline seating resource, labels all the seats in Row 27 a "poor" choice.)

EVA is telling the truth when it says it has not blocked all the seats for its most elite frequent fliers. Indeed, the EVA rep gave Phan a local agent to contact who did find her seats together in the four-across section or another two-across option. But neither was to Phan's liking, the rep said. The agent promised to keep looking and working with the Phans to secure the seats they need.

What appears to be happening is that although the Phans are purchasing premium economy, they are not at the head of the class of EVA fliers.

Counter doesn't think it is a cabal & frankly, given the speed with which EVA replied & tried to discover a solution, I must agree. (Besides, would an airline that has planes outfitted for fans of Hello Kitty be able to duplicity? Would not that be a small like Disney saying it hates kids?) But where both Counter & I find fault is in explaining the "why" of the situation to Phan.

EVA is a well-run airline, so I don't see them blocking space for VIP executives," he said in an e mail to me. "I could see them giving those types of travelers the best chair (& most likely in business class), but I don't think they'd block that plenty of seats for a few potential VIPs. So their explanation makes sense."