I have just checked in for a flight to Gatwick in ET. When I bought my ticket I immediately picked the exit seat and it has shown as confirmed the whole time (it was free as I'm OW Sapphire). I tried to online check in when it became available but it failed and told me I had to check in at the airport. When I got to the airport I was told my exit seat had been 'offloaded' when the online check in failed, they couldn't get it back and I was out of luck (and am now in the very back of the plane).

Is this a common thing? If so I will never try to online check in again (which is a frustrating thought as I normally just have a carry on)! They didn't know why the online check in failed, but I am going on the US tomorrow via Heathrow so maybe that is why (I'm an American citizen and my info was all in the record though).

OK, not the worst thing that could happen and I will survive! But there were other flight options not involving an airport change. I chose BA to stay with OW and because of perks like free exit seats on ET flights.