As you state, 1A and 1J, sometimes also one of the window seats in row 3 are so called "facility" seats for people travelling with infants etc. I have insisted (politely, the reservations service in Switzerland is sometimes more flexible with this: +41 848 85 4000) on the old SR once to SFO and yesterday on LX for a flight to LAX to have 1A/J "released" for me, it has always worked in the past. You just have to accept the risk (small) of being thrown off by someone with a greater need than yours. In practice I think there must almost never be that many mothers (VIPs? / last minute full-fare payers?) etc. travelling to require all the facility seats there are - and a reasonable chance of a window seat is better than nothing. Apart from this, early check-in helps (get them to release facility seats), if that fails, the lounge staff in ZRH will do what they can for you.