[GypsyFlyer]

I had a comparable experience this past weekend (regarding seat assignments on American Airlines) on a flight from Birmingham to Dallas and back. I had had my reservations for a month. When I went to choose a seat, only one showed as available, so I picked it, though it was in between the aisle and window at the back of the plane. When I got on the plane, the aisle seat next to me was empty, as was the entire row of 3 seats behind me. Why, I wonder did those not show up when I went to pick my seat—was it because AA wanted me to pay $14 for “preferred seating”?
On the return trip, things were worse. I arrived at the airport 5 hours ahead of flight time, but the kiosk would not issue a boarding pass or seat assignment, only a piece of paper that said to check on seating at the gate. So, I went there, but no agent showed up until 40 minutes before the flight. The agent said she could not give me a seat assignment yet; she had to “change some other seating.” I waited nervously, talked to several others in the same situation. We went back to the counter; the agent again said she could not yet seat us. I said I had had reservations for a month, why the delay? She was, as emichelson said, indifferent and apathetic, even contemptuous. She would not look us in the eye. This game continued until time for the flight to depart. Then suddenly she called us and gave us seats. I found this whole situation incredibly and unnecessarily stressful because there was no explanation and no assurance that our tickets would in fact be honored. Why is this??? American Airlines can consider me an unhappy customer who plans to spread the word.