Have to agree with flyerby. One could get the seats easily before all the a la carte options came in. That does not cancel out the fact that RJ staff do still try to help out the elites (more to RJ, less to non-RJ ones). The best place to ask for a seat is in the AMM lounge.

That said, (as a regular in long haul RJ Y), I hate the emergency exit row... too much traffic around that area.