Flying from San Diego to NY, considering a first time flight with jetblue over AA. any opinions? am a AA ff so hate to miss getting miles.

Jet Blue flies Airbus A320. Seat pitch is shown as 34-36" Wow!
Unless you are using FF miles to upgrade to FC on AA I would take Jet Blue. They have video screens on each seat too!
Economy coach is 31-32" on AA 757

do you know if you can prebook your seat on jet blue's website??

You cannot see seat availability online, but you can change your seat selection on line 24 hrs prior to flight when you get your boarding pass.

I have chosen my seat many times during booking on JetBlue--- AFTER it's paid for, and before signing out!

I guess I meant you cannot look at seat availability before you pay.

i decided to give jetblue a try. i called them first and found out there was a lot of seats available. the agent was very nice on the phone.i then went back to the web and bought the ticket. after paying for the ticket i then could select my seats.

Great, give us a report on your flight when you get back.
I am AA FF too but do not fly as much as I did, so now my main focus is on seat pitch and I tend to fly coach only on those airlines (including Jet Blue) that offer the most leg room.

I greatly prefer JetBlue for transcons. Get a seat in the front section of the cabin and you will have 36" of legroom, which is about as much as a typical FC seat. The IFE is the best in the biz, with live TV. The crew are great. And though they don't serve meals, they offer so many snacks and do so many beverage runs, that you may actually even turn them away.