Anyone know how far along AA has gotten on the A319 reconfiguration (adding 4 F seats to total 12)?

This week, AA's JFK-STT flights in late December went from 8 to 12 F (J, actually, on this route) seats. This allowed me to move our paid tickets from a connection to this nonstop flight for a modest ($12) price reduction. But, only 2 of the 3 seats we need were not in Row 3. I grabbed those assuming that if the aircraft were to be swapped to an 8 seat cabin, being in Row 1 or 2 is better than being in Row 3, but maybe seat selection is not what matters for determining who gets bumped. Two of the 3 pax are Golds and 1 is EXP, all on same PNR. Does seat selection or status matter most if that happens - assuming all aircraft won't be reconfigured by late December.

I don't know for sure, but I have read on here several accounts of high-status members losing their F seats with a cabin shrinkage. Based on that, my gut tells me those in rows 1-2 are the safe ones, regardless of status.

Approximately 20% of the fleet is in a 12F configuration, but December is a long time from now... I too would try to reserve rows 1-2.

Not your question, but somehow retain proof of the fare difference now between F and Y, in the case there is a downgrade. So many unknowns until December that's really the only thing you have full control of.

AA has 132 A319s - 32 of which are birds with CFM-56 engines AND have seat back screens. My info is that 16 of them have been converted to the new 12F configuration.