Originally Posted by
JumboD
I also thought that at the airport anyone could request the seat if available (seeing as AA has no formal policy like UA and the way they sell E+). In my pre-elite days I used to go to the airport early and request an exit row, which usually was available due to an upgrading elite member.
You probably could, however, most infrequent flyers at AA don't know that the J section is sold as Y (most of them likely no nothing about the difference between a 2 and 3 class a/c). On that flight a few years ago, a gentleman sat down next to me and asked if he was in the right cabin. I explained that this section is sold as a coach seat, including the duvet and big pillow, and he was totally blown away.