Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,775
I can't say I've noticed this same randomness on jets. My Aeroplan redemptions have always had auto-assigned seats in the first 12 rows, and almost always in the first four.