A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
If you're never flown a particular airline before, it would be common sense to spend a few minutes on the carrier's website, looking especially at the "traveling with us"/day of travel information. More importantly, you should look at your boarding pass. If there's a seat assignment, perhaps one should assume that this is the seat you're expected to use.
People flying WN surely look at boarding passes to find their boarding zone and number, so it's not a totally alien concept that one should look at the piece of paper the airline gives you that permits you to board the flight.