The Great Seat Assignment Racket: Are You Paying Too Much for Your Comfort?

For most travelers, the question of whether to pay extra for a seat assignment is a recurring dilemma, fraught with anxiety and the nagging suspicion of being fleeced. Donna Shelton, a Chicago-based banker, sums up the prevailing sentiment: "Almost never" is her answer. She views it as an airline money grab, a feeling echoed by countless passengers who have witnessed the proliferation of these fees.

Shelton admits to making a rare exception on a flight from Houston to Chicago. She had rescued a stray cat and needed extra legroom to comfortably access the carrier. Reluctantly, she paid $30 for an aisle seat. Her experience underscores the tension between the perceived need for a specific seat and the resentment of paying extra for something that feels like it should be included.

The numbers don’t lie. A recent Senate report revealed that the five largest U.S. airlines raked in a staggering $12.4 billion from seat fees between 2018 and 2023. Astonishingly, some airlines are generating more revenue from seat selection than from baggage fees, highlighting the lucrative nature of this practice. The allure of charging for seats is so strong that even Southwest Airlines, known for its open seating policy, will soon succumb to the temptation.

The question is, how did we get here? How did airlines convince us that paying extra for a basic comfort is the norm? Madeleine Galvin, a retired office manager, offers a possible explanation. She believes airlines create the impression that you might not even get a seat if you don’t pay for one. Her experience with a foreign carrier reinforces this notion. "Do these airlines think you will stand up for the entire flight?" she asks, a question that encapsulates the absurdity of the situation.

The truth, often obscured by airline marketing, is that a ticket guarantees you a seat. It may not be your preferred seat, but you will have a place to sit. However, the anxiety of ending up in a middle seat, separated from your travel companions, or feeling cramped and claustrophobic drives many to pay extra.

Airlines are masters of exploiting these anxieties. They sell you the promise of avoiding discomfort, of securing a sliver of personal space in the crowded confines of a plane. What’s more, sophisticated algorithms determine the price you pay for that privilege. The cost is not based on the actual expense of providing transportation but rather on what the airline thinks you are willing to pay. It’s a classic case of supply and demand, with airlines manipulating the demand side through fear and uncertainty.

So, how can we disrupt this system? The answer is surprisingly simple: collective action. If everyone refused to pay for seat assignments, airlines would be forced to allocate seats at no additional cost. Window, middle, and aisle seats would be assigned randomly, just as they used to be.

The inevitable question is: wouldn’t fares increase to compensate for the lost revenue? The author argues that this is not inevitable. We, the passengers, control the prices we pay for tickets. If we refuse to pay inflated fares, airlines will eventually lower them. It’s a matter of collective bargaining power.

In the meantime, travelers can mitigate the impact of seat reservation fees by choosing airlines that don’t charge them or charge them less frequently. Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic are among the airlines that offer more passenger-friendly seating policies.

However, the author acknowledges a pessimistic counter-argument. Airlines might simply shrink the size of seats further, intensifying the scramble for marginally more comfortable seating. This highlights the fundamental power imbalance between airlines and passengers.

Ultimately, the author concludes that the only way to truly eliminate these fees is through government intervention. Regulations that mandate free seat assignments would level the playing field and prevent airlines from exploiting passenger anxieties.

Christopher Elliott, the author, is a consumer advocate who has dedicated his career to helping people navigate the complexities of the travel industry. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a non-profit organization that assists consumers with resolving problems. His insights offer a valuable perspective on the seat assignment dilemma, reminding us that we have more power than we think.

The author suggests that the constant and insidious up-charges levied by airlines do more than simply deplete our travel budgets. The fees create a sense of resentment, degrading our overall travel experience. Instead of feeling excited about our destination, we feel nickeled-and-dimed. By standing together to reject these unfair costs, we not only can reclaim some of our money, but more importantly, we can reclaim the joy of traveling.

The call to action is clear: consider the consequences of purchasing that seat. Consider whether the small increase in comfort is really worth the additional fee. Consider how those millions upon millions in fees are only perpetuating a system of exploitation and a degraded flying experience. By choosing to resist, we may yet restore some semblance of sanity to the skies.