Something called the seat lock plunger mechanism can "get gunked up over time with people spilling sodas, popcorn, coffee or whatever and that can affect that locking mechanism on the ground that locks the seat to the floor," airline spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said Friday
That's an interesting twist...
Normally, all the "gunk" on boats, trains, planes, and autompbiles makes it HARDER to get the pieces apart when needed. It's VERY STRANGE that at AA the "gunk" makes all those old seats come apart!
I wonder if Ms Fagan has a clue at all...