You keep referring to the upgrade to "F" - AA only has F on the 77W and 32B. Just terminology - but the class is J.
Did anyone get upgraded to J? I was last year moved to J on DFW-HNL around 4 hours before departure - before gate was open - and I wasn't top of the upgrade list - but I was only one on the list in PE. AA is tending to upgrade PE passengers before the flight goes to gate control and it won't show on the upgrade list.
Surprised if you are flying from PHX - you just don't take the PHX-HNL flight and get exit rows.