do airlines really keep friends together on flights?

Last week, I booked a flight with my old friend, hoping we'd get to sit together and catch up during the trip. We even picked our seats online, thinking it was all set. But when we checked in at the airport, the airline had split us up—one in row 12, the other way back in row 27! I felt a bit anxious because I really count on having someone I know next to me, especially since flying makes me nervous. I thought booking together would guarantee we'd be side by side, but apparently that's not always the case. Has anyone else had this happen, even when you avoid those budget airlines like Frontier or Spirit? I can't be the only one who gets frustrated by this. It makes me wonder if picking seats early even matters anymore, or if it's just luck of the draw. #airlinetravel #flightseating #travelquestions #Travel