Please  post the link to an example which demonstrates this issue.

Let's say I have a component such as this DC Jack (C397342) somewhere on my board. What I would like to know is the exact location of the two alignment holes. I am able to figure out the location of the pads and the component itself, but I just can't figure out how to get the location of the two holes. 

There are two ways to do this. One is safe but requires some arithmetic to find the XY co-ordinates of the mounting hole centres. The other is dangerous but gives a direct measurement of the XY co-ordinates of the mounting hole centres. **The safe way:** 1. Open the footprint in the Footprint Editor;  2. Note the XY co-ordinates of the mounting hole centres with respect to the footprint origin;  3. In the PCB, select and then note the XY co-ordinates of the footprint origin as placed in the PCB;  4. Do the sums to work out the XY co-ordinates of the mounting holes with respect to the footprint origin. **The dangerous way:** 1. Select the footprint;  2. If the footprint is locked then set **Locked = No** in the right hand panel; 3. Click on the **Group/Ungroup Symbol...** button in the floating PCB Tools palette;  **4\. BEWARE: This disintegrates the whole symbol;** **** 5\. Reselect the whole symbol; 6\. Set **Locked = Yes** in the right hand panel. **Do not omit this operation**;  7\. Select each mounting hole and note the XY co\-ordinates; 8\. Do **CTRL+Z** (Undo) until the footprint is returned to it original state - including its Locked status - before step 2; 9\. Repeat the above steps as required for each footprint\.

I missed a   important step for the dangerous  solution: Step 0: Save the PCB before you start Step 1!

Ahh ! I had a huntch there had to be some sort of "Ungroup" functionality but I scouted the menus many times but did not find it. I just did not think to look through the tools palette !! But anyway, the Footprint Editor (safe) way seems a very good way. Nevertheless, I still believe there should be a way to simply select the holes to figure out their placement, the same way we can select the pads. Thanks for the help ! Very appreciated !

@TechnoGilles, You could post an edited version of this topic as a Feature Request. :)

Or just change the Category of this one.