It's true that travel agents are often to blame. I was booked on internal American Airlines flight recently in an exit row window seat by the agent: I didn't know it was exit row, but the check in agent fully agreed that I shouldn't have that seat - I walk with a stick! - but needed an aisle seat elsewhere. But if I wonder if in all the fuss of loading, I could have ended up in a exit row window? But the agent thought theywere doing me a favour.....