Happened to me last week: ICN to DFW. Two class 789 on AA. My wife and I were number one and three, some other person number two. Then a number four and five show up on the list. They get cleared ahead of everyone for the Y to J. I ask the gate agent what gives. The reply is that AA employees traveling with a special voucher get cleared ahead of everyone regardless of status. So the teo open J seats went to employees. This was confirmed by customer service. Could be part of what happened