Airlines are constantly looking for ways to add additional fees on to the price of a ticket. The Preferred Seat Fee is one of the worst because you do not actually get anything that would justify calling it “Preferred.”
Preferred or Choice seats are usually located on the aisle or window near the front of the plane. Sometimes Preferred Seats are the middle seat which is in no way is “Preferred” or worth paying an extra fee for.
The Preferred Seat fee is a direct result of the Checked Bag Fee. Prior to the baggage fees enough passengers would check their bags that there would be enough overhead bins for the passengers that carried on their bags. Now that passengers are trying to avoid the baggage fees they are more likely to carry on their bags. This has created a shortage of overhead bin space and there is a race to get on the plane first to find a place for your bag. The Preferred Seat Fee usually allows the passenger to board in an early boarding group which give them a chance at getting a place to store their bags.
The two airlines that sell Preferred seats are US Airways and American Airlines. Delta and United do not sell preferred seats yet. They do however sell Economy Plus/Comfort seats which actually have benefits associated with them.
US AIRWAYS CHOICE SEATS
US Airways is a pioneer in a charging fees for extras and the Choice Seat Fee is just another fee in their long list of extras.
US Airways defines a Choice seat as:
“ChoiceSeats are mostly window and aisle seats towards the front of Coach (and may include exit row seats*). ChoiceSeats have the same leg room as other seats, but are closer to the front of the plane – so you’re among the first to get on when you board (with Zone 2) and among the first to leave when you land.”
So the only benefit is that you can board early and exit earlier than most of the other passengers.
Below is an example of Choice Seat fees for a trip that I booked. The first flight has fee of $45 and the second flight has a fee of $67 for the Choice Seats. I do not know why there is a difference in price because it is the same type of plane going the same distance. If I had selected these seats it would have added almost 40% to the cost of my ticket. I do not know about you but I have a hard time justifying paying 40% more for something that does not have any significant benefits.
US Airways Choice Seat Fees Examples
US Airways Choice Seat Chart Flight #1
US Airways Choice Seat Chart Flight #2
AMERICAN AIRLINES PREFERRED SEATS
American Airlines is the other major airline that charges for Preferred Seats. They also have a Main Cabin Extra Seat fee but that actually has benefits.
American Airlines defines a Preferred seat as:
“Preferred Seats are standard legroom seats more favorably located within the Main Cabin.”
They do not even mention if you get to board with an early group but I suspect that you can.
Like US Airways the cost for the preferred seat varies based on the flight. On the example below I would have paid an additional $56.25 to sit in the preferred seats. Again there is nothing different about the seats.
American Airlines Preferred Seat Fees Examples
American Airlines Preferred Seat Chart Flight #1
American Airlines Preferred Seat Chart Flight #2
From the above examples you can see that you will be paying more for something with very little benefit. The seats are not bigger, more comfortable or have better service. You just get to sit near the front of the plane. For me that is not worth paying the extra money.
What do you think of the Preferred Seat Fee?
Great points! The “preferred seats” have always bothered me, and I see no real benefit to paying for them either. Because of our credit card benefits with a few airlines, we get early boarding anyways.
Airline credit cards are the best way to get some benefits without paying for them.
I’ve never paid for a preferred seat or upgraded out of cattle class. For me air travel is no different to being on a bus or train, I just need to get from A to B in the shortest amount of time and for the least amount of money!
I think train travel is much more enjoyable than flying these days.
I hear you bro! These days, sometimes I just don’t get a seat assigned and then just wait until the day of, and when no one wants to pay extra, there are all these good bulk head seats left! Of course, that plan can backfire on you, but I have had it work in my favor twice on this last trip!
That is an interesting strategy. I would be worried I would end up in the dreaded middle seat.
I am really prone to motion sickness and the best place for me to sit is towards the front of the plane. I always prefer aisle seat because it’s easy for me to get up if I’m not feeling well. It also allows me more room in case I’m feeling claustrophobic. If it’s a short flight, I don’t mind sitting in the middle. To me, the fee is completely worth it if I’m on a long haul flight. Because I live abroad and most of my flights with American Airlines are 12+ hours, I’ve earned a lot of miles and now get free preferred seats and boarding, which is really nice. And getting off the plane first can save you lots of time in immigration lines!
Airline status is a great thing to have. It makes traveling a little more comfortable.
Really enjoyed this article. I have never paid for preferred seating and now definitely won’t! Thanks for writing this!
Unless you need to sit near the front they are not worth it.
I’ve never paid for a preferred seat. Even the low cost European carriers are selling these and the only benefit is you get to board early.
I am not surprised by this. The discount carriers in Europe are notorious for their fees.
I wouldn’t pay for seats that have no benefit other than location in the cabin. But I will pay for upgraded economy (called different things by different airlines) that offer priority location, greater leg room, and more of a seat recline. Those are pretty good benefits for a long haul flight, especially an overnight one.
Yes the upgraded economy seats can be worth the extra expense. There are good benefits associated with them. I did however find Upgraded Economy Seats on Delta that have limited recline. I still can’t figure that one out since the prices were the same as the full recline ones.
I second Charli above. I never upgrade my cattle-class seat, even in long-haul flights. Maybe someday, when I’m older and my bones start getting creaky. 😀
I’ve never paid for an upgraded seat and wouldn’t. I just don’t see the appeal and think it’s a ripe-off. I’m not keen to all these things that airlines do to get more money out of us.
The problem is that it is getting very difficult to avoid any extra fees. I have been able to do it because I always carry my bag on and sometimes have preferred status.
I don’t pay for upgrades, I don’t really see the point. Getting from point A to point B is the goal. A little extra leg room is always nice but I’m short so it’s wasted on me.
I envy the people who have extra disposable income to pay for crap like this. OK, not really, but it would be nice not pay the fee because I’m too smart rather than because I’m too broke! LOL
It is getting to be more and more difficult to fly without paying anything extra. I have done pretty good by not paying extra but I do have a airline credit card that give me some benefits.
Story of our lives, Jeff!
Surprise! Delta now sells “preferred seats” for $9. All you get is a standard legroom seat near the front to see into first class and earlier boarding to get your carry on in the overhead bins. A total waste of money!
Only $9? The other airlines prices are variable based on length of flight and some other factors they don’t want us to know.
AA seat selection is nothing more than a scam to rip off passengers. If we had selected seats on our recent trip it would have added $280 to our cost, because when you have a layover they charge for each leg of the flight. The “premium” seats cost an extra $35. Ridiculous.
There is also nothing Premium about their “Premium” seats.
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