[mewpmewp]

I would disagree that it is easier to assign seats next to each other compared to random. You would have to firstly check which of the untaken seats are next to each other in a continuous row. With random you would just have to pick a any unseated seat.

[jVinc]

unchecked sequential is easier than unchecked random. Checked sequential is easier than checked random. Remember, they aren't just assigning people random seats, they are attempting to assign as many paired individual as far from each other as possible to maximize the inconvenience on the part of the costumers that do not pay extra.