Summary
- Seat selection charges have become increasingly popular among airlines, with costs rising to over $100 in some cases. Last year, eight US airlines collected $4.2 billion in seat charges.
- Many travelers consider seat selection charges excessive, especially when parents have to pay extra to sit with their children.
- The Department of Transportation may be working on legislation requiring airlines to seat children next to accompanying adults at no extra cost. Senator Ed Markey has also proposed a bill prohibiting airlines from charging unreasonable fees for basic services.
Anyone who has traveled in the last many years has undoubtedly encountered additional charges before paying for a flight. Of course, with the rise of low and ultra-low-cost carriers, they would be rather unprofitable without these ancillary charges. But even for full-service carriers with multiple economy class fares, you will likely need to pay extra for similar add-ons unless you select one of the higher fares.
Under the guise that it’s better if customers can select everything they want and nothing they don’t, seat selection gets called out more than other charges. Perhaps this is because, compared to almost every other charge, sitting in one seat versus another (of the same class) will not affect passenger airline service significantly, nor will it increase costs for the airline. Still, they charge you for it.
The crux of the matter
According to USA Today, charging for specific seats began in the mid to late 2000s and has become increasingly popular. If it were merely $5 to $10 for such a choice, perhaps most travelers would not grumble as much as they do. However, these costs have been rising steadily, up to over $100 in some cases. As published by IdeaWorks Company, eight US airlines alone (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, and United) collected $4.2 billion in seat charges in 2022.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
Although flying is more accessible than ever before, it is still considered a luxury. It’s hard to say whether airlines started charging for seats due to the usual preference for a window/aisle seat or to take advantage of the natural human desire to sit next to a friend or family member. Many see it as excessive regardless.
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Some people believe it is entirely in the carrier’s right to request such charges and, therefore, go into it knowing seat selection will be an expense, while others feel the practice should be illegal; this is especially the case for those traveling with young children.
The issue is that parents are forced to pay an extra $25 to $100+ per person to sit together or let airline employees place their children in seats surrounded by strangers. In a recent press conference on airline policy changes, US President Joe Biden summed up in favor of getting rid of these charges, saying, as reported by The US Senate,
“Airlines can’t just treat a child like a piece of baggage.” Again, it’s possible to argue for both sides of the issue: “Why should I need to pay extra to sit with my children,” or “Find another method of travel if you’re not willing to do so.”
Photo: Alaska Airlines
According to the 2023 Cartrawler Report Series by IdealWorks Company, the major US airlines charged an average of $33 for a preferred seat, $48 for an exit row seat, and $18 for the last row seat.
|
Airline |
Preferred seat |
Exit row |
Last row |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Allegiant |
$29 |
$34 |
$15 |
|
American |
$31 |
$55 |
$11 |
|
Frontier |
$40 |
$64 |
$28 |
|
JetBlue |
$17 |
$82 |
$10 |
|
Spirit |
$36 |
$50 |
$23 |
|
United |
$46 |
N/A |
$20 |
|
Average |
$33 |
$48 |
$18 |
The report also suggests that several US airlines have created a special “extra legroom zone” to generate more revenue by charging extra for seats in those rows.
“Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, and United have created multiple rows of seats which offer extra leg room (such as 5 to 7 inches) at the front of the cabin. Alaska, American, and Delta include earlier boarding and a free beer or wine, which attempts to create a mini business class experience. Elite members are usually provided fee-free access to these seats. American brands these seats “Main Cabin Extra” and JetBlue calls them “Even More Space.”
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Potentially the end of an era
As it happens, this may not matter; at least in the United States, the days of certain ancillary charges may be numbered. The Department of Transportation may be drawing up legislation that will force airlines to seat a child (anyone 13 or younger, according to the document) next to an accompanying adult at no extra cost to the family.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
Additionally, Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has proposed the “FAIR Fees Act, prohibiting airlines from charging unreasonable fees for basic services like reservation changes, carry-on baggage, and more.” As the text mentions, Senators and Representatives who have backed the bill come from far-reaching areas of the country, such as Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Oregon, and California. Only time will tell what will happen with seat selection charges.
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