Originally Posted by
FlytheTail
It might have been sold as a 2-class plane, but it sounds like it was a 3-cabin A321. In that case, one likely scenario is #3 and #9 were purchased J and received upgrades to F, while the remaining were purchased Y and on the waitlist for J. But if that was the case, who filled the J seats vacated by #3 and #9 ? Maybe those cleared after the photo was taken?
Again, this plane is sold as two-class: Y and F. You cannot buy J as a separate class and be upgraded to F independent of the rest of the folks in Y. Nor can you buy Y and be upgraded to "J". J seats belong to the Y cabin on this flight and are treated as MCE seats.