When I’m abroad I keep trying online check-in, only to be reminded again and again why I don’t use it: I don’t have a printer. That’s a deal breaker for me, since I prefer to have hard copies of my travel documents.
Yesterday the same thing happened: I started the online check-in procedure, chose a seat that was different than the automatic selection and proceeded until I was reminded that I need to print something. I cancelled the operation and later went to the airport. At the airport I used a self-serve check-in machine instead of going to the counters. To my pleasent surprise, the selected seat was the one that I chose, not the automatically assigned one!
This means that using the online check-in system you can choose a seat even if you don’t complete the entire procedure. I think I’m going to give it another try (if I get the chance) on my next flight. Also, I wonder what would have happened had I gone to the counters. Would they still assign me the same seat?