First, a little background.

This year, I have no AP status (not even P). The itin in question is being flown on AP points.

My return is SAN - LAX (United), LAX-YYZ (AC - redeye).

Within 24 hours of my SAN-LAX, I try to do on-line checkin (both on AC.com and united.com). It won't let me. Is this normal?

At the stroke of 24 hours prior to my LAX-YYZ, I do on-line checkin at AC.com, and it lets me. When I booked, I chose the best seat being offered (crappy isle near the back). Now during on-line check-in, still no better seat being offered (not even emergency seats - is this normal?). Ok, fine.

At SAN check-in, I ask about seat selection LAX-YYZ. They can't even print me a boarding pass for that, let alone access that flight. Give me all sorts of reasons - but nothing sounds coherent.

Naturally at LAX they feign incrediulity and say that shouldn't have happened. It *almost* sounds like I was worse-off to do on-line checkin LAX-YYZ because that somehow screwed up SAN's ability to pull that flight and check seats and print BP (can I get a reality check on that?).

The number printed on my LAX-YYZ BP is something like 0001A, which makes me think I was the first one to check-in. At this point I'm at LAX checkin, and they can't assign me emergency row seat. They say to check at the gate. This is 3 hours prior to departure.

The YYZ gate is some crazy room that happens to be locked and doesn't open until an hour prior to departure. I'm the first one at the counter, and I ask for emergency row seat - specifically 17 A or F. Agent takes my BP, scribbles something on it, and tells me he'll call me.

Later I get called, and I get seat 16 D. I asked if 17 A or F was available - he says no.

But I was screwed. Row 16 is emergency, but so is 17, so 16 doesn't recline. I had the worst redeye in years. I asked the (youngish male dude) in 17F when he checked in, he says a couple hours prior.

So howcome he got 17F, when I asked for it an hour earlier???

What does it take for someone without any status to snag an Emerg-row seat (a GOOD emerg-row seat) these days without begging for it at the gate?