Carol,

Per the AA seat selection charts, the ‘brown’ revenue upgrade seats do include free drinks. And while I could be mistaken I think they also get you earlier boarding? We usually do these seats if we’re NOT flying First or Business but as we are basically non-drinkers I can’t swear to it from personal experience and I don’t recall the boarding and overhead space issues but I think they also offer special considerations for these items, too.

I guess I just get lucky with the CSRs I get because they are usually - not ALWAYS - but usually very accommodating.