Originally Posted by
AA2070
Way back in the day (like the days of the Bistro Bags, which is an unfathomable amenity in Y now), AA used to block the seats next to EXPs. They could still be sold, but they were the last seats to be assigned.
Yes, I believe they referred to it as a 'courtesy block.' Back when I was a CK, I used to request this all the time. Naturally, loads 10 years ago are not what they were in 2019, where nearly every seat was taken. I've had luck, very occasionally, in asking the gate agent to keep a seat open, if possible, with mixed results.