This is not true. You can bid to change airplanes five minutes after an AE award if you want. The distinction is the company doesn't have to AWARD you what you bid unless your 12 or 24 month as appropriate "lock" is expired. Seat locks don't mean you "can't bid." Anybody can bid anything at any time. And there are cases where the company has waived seat locks and awarded bids when it's to their advantage. It's like Lotto. You can't win if you don't play!