I wonder whether the OP checked seating charts via ExpertFlyer (or the equivalent) to see whether seats were in fact being assigned upfront on the 747 to DPS? When we made the trip last year, there were no seats assigned upfront until about 2 hours before flight-time. When I refreshed the seating map upstairs in the Wing (before it was closed for the current renovations), and I saw seat 1A assigned, I very quickly made my pitch to one of the wonderful desk attendants there, they made a phone call, and we were assigned 2A and 3A. BTW, the cabanas upstairs in the Wing (again, before the renovations) did not suffer extreme heat/humidity problems ---- and hopefully will not when the renovations are complete.