Looking ahead a few months I note that Cathay is still showing A4 on LAX-HKG, for example. That's all they ever show. The "things are worse this year" worried me, and it may certainly be true, but in the past it's been unusual not to be able to get the A3 we normally need. It's certainly best to book well in advance, naturally.

In the past BA has been the easiest carrier to get A on. If they're giving it away to C pax of course the seats will vanish sooner.