Chart: What it costs to select your seat location

Earliest available

Charge?

Can you pre book an exit row?

Premium Services

Airtran

During booking, before purchase

$6-$20

$20, book anytime

Upgrades to business class available at set prices $49-$129.

Alaska

During booking, before purchase

No

Yes

Some seats at front of economy section and aisle seats for premium customers

Allegiant

During booking, before purchase

up to $75

Yes, for a fee

No

American

During booking, before purchase

No

Reserved for premium customers

$4-$59 for preferred seats (window/aisle toward front); $8-$118 for Main Cabin Extra (more leg room).

Free for certain frequent fliers and full fare tickets.

British Airways

Free at check in or from 24 hours before departure. Fees apply to choose seats at booking up to 25 hours before departure.

Depends on class of service; For international economy and domestic UK, £10/$15 to choose seats from time of booking up to check-in, 24 hours before departure up to £60/$90 for other classes of service (First Class free)

£50/$75 for economy/World Traveller Plus

N/A

Delta

During booking, before purchase

No

Reserved for premium customers

$9-$99 per segment for Economy Comfort (more leg room); $9-$59 per segment for preferred seats (window/aisle toward front).

Free for certain frequent fliers and full fare tickets.

Frontier

During booking, before purchase

No

Request at check in

$5 for select seats; $5-50 for stretch upgrades.  Free for certain frequent fliers.

Hawaiian

During booking, before purchase

No

Request at check in

No, but upgrades available for sale

JetBlue

During booking, before purchase

No

Yes, from $10, depending on flight length

$10-$65 for "Even More Room" seats. (more leg room)

Southwest

At boarding

No

No

$10 for preferred boarding (“Group A”)

Spirit

During booking, before purchase

$1-$50 depending on route

Yes, for a fee

$12-$199 for “Big Front Seat” in advance; $25-$75 for onboard upgrades.

United

During booking, before purchase

No

Request at check in

$9-$179 for Economy Plus.  Free for certain frequent fliers.

US Air

During booking, before purchase

No

Request at check in

$5-$99 for Choice Seats (window/aisle toward front).  Free for certain frequent flyers.

Virgin America

During booking, before purchase

No

Sold as “Main Cabin Select” seats for hefty fees

Exit rows and bulkheads sold as “Main Cabin Select” for variable fees, includes free premium TV and meals