Group 9 Forced to Check Bag

I recently took a trip to Brazil solely using American Airlines. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else but over the course of my FIVE flights, EVERY group 9 member had to check in their bags. Then when I enter the aircraft, there are multiple open overhead bin space. I feel like they should at least allow the first few members of group nine to bring their carryons. Additionally, every single costumer service representative was extremely rude and hostile. You couldn’t pay me enough to ever fly with them again. I have been treated better on spirit