Originally Posted by
drseagrass
For a non-elite flyer, check in at precisely 24 hours before the flight and check then for exit row availability, as elites who have chosen the exit row upon booking may have been moved up to these seats or first class at this point.
And if you don't get the seat you want at the 24 hour point, check back a few times. Low-level elites can move themselves into PE if they're in an exit row, so all the moves out of the exit row won't always happen at the same time. (My personal seat preferences are: first row in PE > exit row > any other PE seat, assuming all those are window or aisle, then repeat for middle seats)