actually I did try to check in online 24 hrs prior and same story, the map was showing only 2 middle seats so I decided to try at the airport.
In any case I got very lucky, a man wanted to swap the aisle with me for my middle in order to sit with his son...geez, lucky break
but I would like to understand why I got stuck with the middle seat, was it that I booked to late or should I have done something else.
One thing unusual about this flight, there was a group of 81 bible thumpers who were together, perhaps they checked in all at the same time?