Reserving seats - why so difficult?
I travel frequently with my wife and three small children, and always try to reserve seats in advance to ensure we sit together. The usual pattern, regardless of airline, is to be told over the phone that it is not possible to book in advance, but that it will be sorted at check-in. At check-in we are told it is too difficult, and they will make it happen at the departure gate. At the gate we are told the stewardesses will sort it out. Once on the plane, we invariably resort to asking other passengers whether they would mind moving so that our kids aren't seated in the four corners of the cabin.
This has happened to me on several US airlines for internal flights, but BA and Virgin transatlantic are guilty also. Can anybody explain why is it so difficult for them to get right something apparently so simple?