I'm not speaking here as an AS employee but as a long timefrequent flyer:

If you aren't "comfortable" due to a POS seated next to you and you request/demand "the seat you paid for," one of two things will likely happen:

1. You will be moved to another seat. It might be a middle seat or not an exit row etc. You are guaranteed a seat on the plane. Not any particular one.

2. You will be invited to take the next flight, and the change fee will be waived.

The chances are exceptionally small that you will be:

1. Upgraded to first class.

2. Compensated for "denied boarding" or anything else.


So it all depends on how big of a hurry you are to get where you are going. If you'd rather wait for another flight, let them know that's what you want to do. If you need to be on the one you are on...either deal with the space infringement or accept that fact that you might end up in a worse seat than where you started...