On my recent circle pacific trip DCIR22 (my first ever in D) I was quite frustrated at the lack of seat choice on the DFW-NRT leg. I tried to choose a window seat at least a month in advance on the AA website, but the only options were centre section and centre row seats. So I made the flight without seeing anything of the outside world - not my preferred option! But then, I had no status with any airline, let alone AA (QF gold now).

Another first for me was when I boarded the flight, - all the window shades were down and remained down throughout the take-off, and for most of the flight, which was conducted during the daytime. It was an eerie feeling for me enduring a take-off without seeing anything. As a light aircraft pilot I always felt it was important to see outside during those critical stages , and even as a passenger I can't shake the habit...

In summary, that was the worst sector of my circle pacific experience, seated at the front of the section with my feet against the bulkhead for 12 hours. Admittedly, more room than in WHY, but for the amount I spent I had hoped for greater seating choice. My criticism sounds harsher than I meant it to, - it was still quite a comfortable trip. Can other FTers point out what I did wrong in terms of seat allocation?

You picked a high-demand flight that is often full and had no status to snag the seats that are reserved for those with status. Next time you take that flight your QF Gold status would be enough to get you a better seat. Window seats are usually not the first to go (aisle seats are more popular) so it is rather ironic that you did not manage to get one. Any AA flight out of DFW tends to be full of high-status pax.

Did you go back to aa.com and keep trying, again and again, right up to the day of departure? Did you ask, at check-in, for a better seat?

I think all the window seats in J are blocked on 777/763 flights, so you must have AA Gold status or higher in order to be able to book them on aa.com; not sure as I haven't had no status for many years. I'm sure several seats did free up (either upgrades or cancellations), but the OP would not ever see these seats or be able to allocate them without the intervention of a kind agent. Perhaps the AA RTW desk could have allocated better seats (that is certainly the case once you do have status, but maybe they also do this for non-status RTW product purchasers).

Nope, they are open for booking by any/all J pax, regardless of status, so the advice stands.

Yes I did check on aa.com - reasonably frequently leading up to the flight, and followed that up with a polite request at check in - all to no avail. Next time will be better. If there is a next time... I don't travel as much as most FTers

This may be the wrong thread, but nobody commented on my observations regarding the window shades being down for the duration of the flight - right from boarding. Is this a common occurrence? I didn't see the attendants enforcing the policy - but nobody in the J cabin bucked the trend.

I am sure while flying in Oz attendants have insisted on the window shades being up for take off and landing - presumably so that in the event of an accident crew can easily see outside for any evidence of fire or other dangers. I found it unusual.

They tend to be closed when departing from hot places, to save energy, so most people comply with the request to leave them down when the aircraft is parked, and never bother to open them after that.

Not much else you could have done, except, perhaps, check-in early, make the request and mention to the agent you will wait around and board last, just in case something turns up; it worked for me once, at the very last minute.