Originally Posted by CCayley

The 'downside', as others have pointed out, is that if the top priority use of an empty seat is to place it next to a GCH, then couples and others travelling together could be forced to sit apart even though there were several 'seat pairs' available.

Thus, using an example of a single row in a plane in 3x3 configuration, if two GCHs pre-allocated themselves, say, 9C and 9D, then even if all other seats in the row were free, Mr and Mrs Deeplyinlove would be required to occupy 9A and F.

I think that all that SRG was suggesting, and if so I entirely agree with her, is that in the great scheme of things, forcing couples to sit apart like that would cause considerable distress, out of proportion to the legitimate benefit the suggested policy would confer on GCHs.