Was looking at the demo for online check in on the BA website. It says that "you will see the seat you have preassigned or been allocated by us...you will then have the option to confirm those seats or change to another seat."

It would seem to follow that if all seats are preassigned or allocated by BA prior to online check in opening, there wouldn't be much if any choice available at check in.

Is this actually how it works? I thought that any seat that wasn't prepaid would be available for selection at 24 hours prior to the flight.

Is this BA trying to encourage paying for seat selection?