I think you're focusing on the wrong details. The seats always have belonged to the captain - he/she has full authority to allow/deny any jumpers (as long as it's justified) - but the booking of the seats should have nothing to do with the captain's input. Again, everyone who is booked has been screened and is approved to ride, either in the back or up front, so why would the captain even want to get involved in that process?? He is the final screen, not the administrator of the program, in my opinion.