Originally Posted by
econ
Don’t know if it’s the same cause, but I remember something similar happening to me last year.
Several hours before the flight, AA swapped a 20F A321 to a 16F A321 (or possibly to A320, I forget), and then a few minutes later right back to a 20 F A321, but that was enough to mess up everyones seat assignment.
Couldn’t re-select an open seat on the app. Had to get it fixed in the lounge during my connection.
From my experience with the 321 retrofit, they blocked off 4 seats and didn't sell or upgrade (and only upgraded at the gate once the aircraft was confirmed).
Originally Posted by
FlyFreakquently
Long story short, I had to go to the gate when it opened and the very kind GA was able to give me 1F after calling in to HQ. No one knew what happened, so very strange situation.
The only experience I've had with my seat disappearing was when the cabin was full with a broken seat (and couldn't be occupied) and I hadn't checked in, they assigned my seat to someone else and cleared my seat assignment (and therefore was downgraded). Perhaps you were the last to get upgraded (the rest were last-minute full F fares) and a seat was broken and then subsequently fixed. The system likely removed your seat assignment, but as you were protected (confirmed) on the flight, it wouldn't let you (or an agent) assign a seat until at the gate when the protection was cleared, preventing any other automations or agents from accidentally completely removing you from the flight.