Pick a Seat, Pay a Fee

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Q. I went to purchase and select seats on Airtran recently and imagine my surprise when there was a $6 charge to get a specific seat assignment. I understand the premium for extra legroom or exit row seats but for a regular seat? With connecting flights for my wife and me, for a roundtrip that adds $48 for the two of us. I felt like calling them and saying "no thanks, I will just stand during the flight". Do other airlines charge for seat assignments?

A. Fortunately, most airlines based in the U.S. do not. Southwest doesn’t offer seat assignments at all, paid or not; Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Airlines do charge to pick a seat (any seat). British Airways even charges business class customers to choose seats more than 24 hours ahead of departure.

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I just recently saw that on Airtran's site myself - but you can choose to not choose, so to speak. You won't have to pay the $6 (or more) per flight. I'm flying alone, so seat assignment is not a huge issue - but if you're with someone, you may find another passenger willing to trade. It usually doesn't hurt to ask.

by ALT429 on Thursday, July 22, 2010

I recently flew AirTran, and the charge for a seat assignment applied only to selections made more than 24 hours before departure.

by huntsvilleinfrequentflyer on Tuesday, July 20, 2010

momof3boysnj should take his complaint about oversize carry-ons to the airlines who should be enforcing their own policies. I plan to keep packing as much as I can into luggage that meets the airlines' carry-on limits - I refuse to tolerate their greedy, unnecessary first-checked-bag aerial highway robbery. gudnuf, I just flew Continental 2 weeks ago. They didn't charge for selecting a seat ahead of time (except for the "roomier" ones).

by GMAB on Friday, July 16, 2010

we recently flew on usa3000, and paid an add'l $9 per seat to have four seats in a row, since we were flying with 2 children. And when we arrived at the airport we were told that 2 of "our" seats had been double booked! and we could not sit all in a row. We were refunded the $36, but what a lousy situation.

by ohiojim on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

If you don't pay extra to choose your seat (an extra money raiser for them for sure) you might get separated at seating. Usually at the gate they will work to get you back together. Heck my wife prefers to be apart sometimes (but that's a different problem)

by rraabe on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I have posted here before about my dissatisfaction with Spirit airlines and their hidden fees which includes the ludicrous charge to select a seat assignment prior to the flight. I don't have a beef with their soon-to-be carry-on charge. I have always been annoyed and inconvenienced by the passengers who insist on taking their full size baggage into the passenger compartment and then force the rest of us to wait while they try to squeeze it into an overhead compartment. If Spirit decides to charge for use of the bathroom that is when I definitely throw in the towel.

by momof3boysnj on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Allegiant Airlines charges for seat assignment and priority boarding but if you zero it out, they do not charge. We have flown about 6 times to Vegas and they always give us seats together. They sometime offer a $39 fare each way and charge extra for baggage, seat assignment and priority boarding. We just put zero in the amount and don't worry about it. You can really save a lot of money.

by jkfolmar on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

On purchasing extra legroom seats my experience with United Airline is that you can purchase Economy Plus seats with or without being a premium member (membership to start is free) but that the cost varies depending on time of day, destination, etc. The most per leg of journey I have paid is $39 but for 5 more inches of legroom it is worth it.

by fletzie03 on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Midwest Airlines allows you to pay extra to purchase wider seats with more legroom, but I believe it's only within 24 hours of the flight.

by sayhello on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

When do we get to see all the "Rate your Flight Reviews". I'm curious about Continental, as i have a flight coming up - will be first time on Continental.

by gudnuff on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

While we have identified which airlines choose for seat selection ahead of time, is there a comprehensive listing of what airlines allow non-elites to purchase extra legroom seats ahead of time. I am tall and am willing to pay for exit rows, but find it frustrating that I cannot even play for them on some airlines without being an "elite." Short of business class, I seem to be running out of options.

by H2O on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Pegasus Airlines (privately-owned Turkish airline that provides flights in Europe and the Middle East).

by zpdiduda on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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