Probably OT - but someone gave me a tip long ago here, which clicked in my head last week as staring depsperately at T-24 for my folks off to HKG in Y. All the exit & 2-some seats were gone, and was struggling as to what to do for them (despite my thread last week where was essentially praying for a miracle or loophole).

There was one row of 3 left, so put one parent on a window seat, the other in the aisle. Had to fully explain to them why I had sat them apart, as were shocked initially. Basically hoping that no-one would want to OLCI in between them , & that check-in would put anyone not assigned into one of the dozen remaining seats elsewhere.

They texted me yesterday to say that it worked & no-one was ever assigned to the middle seat & had loads of space. Having never travelled higher up tham Premium Eco. on a charter flight to Canada - was heaven for 'em!