Paddyintheuk says
A computer is not capable of making the difference between people traveling with children and those without. And the programming would lead to complexities. As far as I am aware there is no airline which is able to provide such a service via their computer systems. Thats just the way it is. It should be able, but it is not, no one has designed a system which can! I am sure you would find the same problem with most airlines.
and then says
Best bet if you really want seats together is to either pay a higher fare
Am I being stupid, or do these statements contradict each other? If the computer is incapable of the task, how would paying a higher fare make any difference.
The truth is, airlines are constantly looking for ways to increase revenues and some of the methods now adopted are bordering on the sinister. I am not necessarily saying BMI are up to this, but for example, Ryanair will not guarantee a seat for even a very young child next to their parent, unless the parent pays for the priviledge. This is a form of taxing parental anxiety. Low income people must potentially put their child at risk, or find the flight unaffordable, whilst higher income people are nicely taken care of. Sooner or later this will backfire. A child will be sexually assulted by a stranger sat next to them, and who will be responsible in this case? The child was forcibly separated from the parent by the airline... the airline had better hope I was not on a jury hearing that case.