flying AA again in years away
 

any way to get free or cheap exit seats?

yes sorry for the first time in years should be in title

"in years away"
 

What does that even mean? Are you trying to procure a futures contract on exit seats for years from now? :confused:

Guessing it's "after years away," or equivalently "for the first time in years."

The answer is there's almost certainly no way to get cheap/free exit row seats, assuming OP doesn't have any sort of lifetime status with AA. Most US airlines have learned that people are willing to pay for seats with more legroom, and charge accordingly.

*****

Get them for free (at early airport check-in) if available, perhaps. Reserve them ahead of time for cheap (without any elite status), not so much.

If you want free or cheap exit tickets, then get status on AA. LOL

A few years ago before having status, I would just ask the gate agent and if exit row was open, they would give it to me. Never asked me to pay. Once they even said no exit row available and offered me a free MCE (probably helps that I'm 6'3? Who knows)

Any reason UA is not an option for you?

AA never did, but US did 24 hours beforehand if you had no status. Then when they merged that all went bye-bye.