Originally Posted by
Andriyko
Look at it a different way. Most airlines do not allow reserving seats on long-haul or short-haul flights in economy. BA does not allow it either. What BA does is let you do it - if you really want it - for a charge. Sometimes when I am not flying BA and I can't select seats on other airlines I wish they allowed me to pay to select them.
BA also charges for BUSINESS CLASS seat reservations. This isn't something that most other carriers do.
If OP can't select two seats together, OP should pick seats so that a good seat can be offered to exchange. Someone in a middle will usually move willingly/eagerly to an aisle but not vice versa.