Airline status at booking vs. flying

[FIRE 20/20]

I'm booking a trip on American Airlines and my girlfriend has Platinum status for a few more months.  However, neither of us will have any status with AA at the time we fly.  Because this is a long (13 hour) flight, we obviously want to try our best to get good seats.  Due to her status she is able to select the "Main Cabin Extra" seats at no extra charge.  Does anyone know if they'll kick us out of those seats before we fly?  If so, when will they make the change?  If it's when her status is downgraded, that would leave us with plenty of time to change seats.  However, if they change our seats right before the flight and we're stuck in the last available seats (probably middle seats in regular economy in the back row), that would really really suck. 

[NotJen]

I had temporary status on AA once a few years ago, and kept the ‘upgraded’ seats I’d already chosen when that changed.  I don’t think there is a mechanism to kick you out of your seats (but I could be wrong).

However, if your flight changes and you get a different plane, then who knows.  Probably the seating area selection carries over, but maybe not.  If you get a notice of a flight change, check your seats then to make new selections.

[cchrissyy]

i've had this situation before while going up and down AA's status levels over the years.
don't worry, they won't take away your seat or charge you anything more
NotJen makes a good point though, all bets are off if your flight is canceled or changed to a different kind of plane

[GizmoTX]

Go for the best seat that you can now. You can check SeatGuru.com if you already know your target flight & date. It's rare that a flight gets cancelled or the plane changed, but if it does, our experience is that AA tries to come close to what you originally had. You will have the same possible bad seat problem wherever you reserve.

[FIRE 20/20]

Thanks all!  That's what I thought.  Optimizing travel without status is going to be a challenge, but I'm much happier being FIREd and travelling that way than flying all over the place for work for the past 20 years. 

[BrightFIRE]

Thanks all!  That's what I thought.  Optimizing travel without status is going to be a challenge, but I'm much happier being FIREd and travelling that way than flying all over the place for work for the past 20 years.

Actually, being a free agent will make it easier. Getting off the status hamster wheel is usually better. Good call!

[FIRE 20/20]

Thanks all!  That's what I thought.  Optimizing travel without status is going to be a challenge, but I'm much happier being FIREd and travelling that way than flying all over the place for work for the past 20 years.

Actually, being a free agent will make it easier. Getting off the status hamster wheel is usually better. Good call!

I hope you're right!  I got used to calling the premier phone line when there were issues, getting extra leg room or first class upgrades, etc.  I had forgotten how small the regular coach seats were until I took a few flights this year without status for the first time in...15 years?  But at least now I can fly whenever I want to instead of when I'm told to.