What people are confusing here are the difference between fare basis and booking class.

If our got the fare basis of Axxxx and it booked in A class at say $1200, then the fare will be honored because the fare basis dictates the ticket. But if the fare basis was Qxxxx and the booking class was wrong, then the finally argument is that the error was in the booking class.

AA is doing what it can now in correcting the booking class. It could of course just then change all booking classes of "A" into economy for the next year or so, and reevaluate everyone booked into genuine "A" fares into another booking class - say "E".

AA may just let the issue slide and let you go to the airport and then give you a boarding pass in economy. Because you bought an economy class ticket - see it says so on the fare. Did you say you booked in "A" class? Sorry, your reservation is showing you in "Q" and here's your seat - 69E.

This may be a loooong battle but as a TA for over 25 years, I can see AA's argument .