Hi...I hope this has not been previously asked. I am planning to book business class AAdvantage awards ORD-NRT on JAL (equipment is 777 starting in the fall).

I am looking at seat maps, and it seems that on every flight (even flights 11 months from today that just opened), seats 5C and 5H are occupied. (Same with 7C, 7H.) I would guess that they are blocked off for elites. Is this correct?

Now I'm a lowly AAdvantage Gold (OW Ruby, equivalent to JMB Crystal). Will I be able to get these seats, and if so, is there a trick to it? Will I be able to select them on JAL's web page after I have booked the tickets through AA?

Many thanks,