Originally Posted by
televisor
Yes: most flyers are individual flyers anyway. Letting groups get seats together first gets all the problems out the way, if someone really has to avoid getting a middle then they can either pay to assign early, or risk missing out if they check in late. Note 1: you're not giving the groups better seats, you're just putting them together in a random location (I've never been anywhere near the front when in a group travelling on a european airline).
If you want a particular seat prepare to pay to assign early. That is the process used by most US domestic airlines today. Doesn't matter if you are a solo traveler wanting to avoid a middle seat or a group wanting to sit together. By holding seat assignments until check-in you discriminate against solo travelers by believing it is okay to assign them seats after all groups have been accommodated first. And given a choice I wouldn't choose an airline with such a policy. It's why I avoid Southwest... As a business traveler i've got better things to do than watch the clock for twice weekly flights OLCI to open and prefer to avoid the scrum (aka Southwest boarding process).