Originally Posted by
dnedved
Thanks for explaining. I understand more but just wanted to know if I can continue to expect this as every agent I talked to was surprised. Is it normal for aa that everyone who doesn't pay for specific seats has to confirm and get every boarding pass at the gate?
It's their business, they can do what they want. If this is the case I wish it was more clear about the different level of service you get when you pay for a seat. It's not only getting aisle, exit row, etc it's the ability to check in online and avoid multiple lines and have a greater percentage of flights completed? That's huge for me even if I don't care about being in the middle seat.
Thanks again, once fully informed as a consumer I'll make the choice which meets my needs.
AA reserves some seats that only elites can pre-select. That number has been increasing of late, especially on elite-heavy routes. While a few flights may be overbooked, there are far more where it's just that the free seats available to non-elites have already been taken.
So, practical advice.
Just because there are no free seats to select when you book, doesn't mean that some won't open later. It can happen anytime, but it's most common in the few days before departure. You can use even the free version of Expert Flyer to set up to receive email alerts when any non-paid seat becomes available. Then go grab it.