No Jili you don't do that! With a special needs statement you can't get the seat you requested, exit row. Now you are at their mercy. Just get to the airport EARLY and you stand a better chance of seat selection, of course American Airlines does Suck, they wouldn't be bankrupt, just keep trying on line for seat selection, or night before , when you print out your boarding passes, you do do that right? Then you may have a better chance or as I said ealier get there Early!