Selecting Seats on Plane

I always wait (I refuse to pay extra to choose a seat early) and I've yet to sit in a middle seat. Although I could definitely live with that too...If the seat is important enough to you, then you should pay up...if not, take a chance. It does not mean you'll have an awful seat. There are many people who wait until last minute too.

Set your alarm to when check in opens so you can get first choice. The longer you wait, the better seats are filled. Having said that, $25 for a long flight is quite low compared to what some other airlines charge.

I would pay for the seat I want. $25 is a pittance in the overall expense of a trip to Europe, even on a tight budget. And you won't worry about it anymore.

Although $25 is a pittance, I don't pay it out of pure principle...I refuse to be nickel and dimed when I can still get a good seat without having to pay extra. Good luck!

I don't like the fee either. But when faced with it here's how I think of it. Let's say it's an 8 hour flight. $25 fee works out to just over $3.10 per hour. Is it worth that to avoid a bad seat or to get a good seat?

Is it worth that to avoid a bad seat or to get a good seat?

It depends on the person and what they value, and it also depends on risk aversion (as I said, you can get a good seat without having to pay extra if you're willing to take a chance). If you're 5'4" and size 4, then the answer to the above question is probably "no". There is no good or bad seat (for me), except it's nice to be by the window. Obviously, not everyone is in that boat and the need to be comfortable is understandable. But you can rationalize spending any extra money - whether it's $5 or $25 or $500 - in all sorts of ways. The only thing that matters is if you're getting something you truly value for your money, and you're paying what you think it's worth. That's why airlines charge a variety of fares for different seat types. My favorite type is "free and included" because any additional room (beyond the typical sardine seat) has very marginal value to me.

I have friends that flew Lufthansa from Frankfurt back to the states a few years ago. They did not pre-select their seats and ended up sitting 4 rows apart. I know it's ridiculous to have to pay extra to pick your seats, but in the long run its worth it. I paid more than that to pick my seats on British air for my RS tour in September. But I got exactly where I wanted to sit (next to my husband an the side of the plane with only 2 seats). No one will be crawling over me to go to the bathroom. In the long run $25 isn't that much.

I'm with Zoe. Just for peace of mind, I'd pay the $25. It depends on how much of a worrier you are. If you would be constantly thinking about this decision, and second-guessing yourself, you should just do it. If you're more like Agnes, then don't.

Another thing, Traveller, a lot of other passengers will probably pay Air France $25 to choose their seats, increasing your chances of getting a bad one if you don't. I think it's a racket - but at least you're only getting squeezed out of $25.

$25 to choose the seat you want? I'd pay it in a heartbeat...I've paid more than that for my comfort on a 10 hour flight. I do the same math that someone above does - cost per hour - and it always helps me buy a little comfort.

Yeah - I'd probably pay to pick a seat for an overseas flight. Luckily, Air Canada allows you to choose your seat at booking on overseas flights. I had the option to choose my seat for our flight from London to Amsterdam, but no - for that short a flight, I'm not paying an extra 25GPB. But for what you're probably paying for your trip, $25 is a drop in the bucket to ensure your comfort.

No brainer for me to be sure I was not squeezed in between my two new best friends. We always get aisle seats across from each other unless there is a 2 seat configuration then we'll get two together.

Hi Traveller, it's a rip off but I'd pay the $25. Just do it and don't waste time worrying for the next few months. I just made reservations for a Fall trip and they're charging $5.45 each for us to select our seats for the Amsterdam-Zurich flight (Delta operated by KLM). This is the first time I've incurred a charge like that. It's silly but I just paid it. One less worry.

Hi Traveller:

I also pay the fee to choose my seat. I usually select an isle seat because i like to get up during the flight. I just consider it a part of the flight. Also it is not that expensive. If you want to see a fee schedule look at At Swiss Air. If i remember correctly, they change to sit in the first 10 rows of cattle car as well as for isle seats. This is in addition to the seats with more leg room.

If I am travelling a European carrier I will also pop for the Premium Economy seats. Unlike US Airlines these are usually much better seats.

I have flown to Europe 14 times in the last 16 years from Seattle and have never had to pay to pick out my seats. I often pick out Economy Extra, or whatever, but not always. Guess I have just been lucky. Last trip was on Delta (Luft) spring of 2016. I realize that by upgrading to EE I am in fact paying for that seat assignment. Flying from Seattle to Europe is a 9 or 9 1/2 hour flight so, if faced with paying a $25 fee to get a seat where I want, I would pay it. A small amount for the cost of the flight.

I would pay it, but i would probably not book on an airline that did not include a seat selection for the long haul portion of the flight in the price of the ticket. Unless the savings from booking on that airline was greater than the incremental cost to book a seat, of course. A middle seat would be torture for me as I am broad through the shoulders; I don't need a lot of legroom because I have short legs. Your utility curve probably varies from mine. I think it's crazy to worry about and extra $25 on a flight that was probably $1,000 or more. I don't understand why people hassle with giant carry-ons and having to buy toiletries at the destination just to save $25 on a domestic baggage fee, either.

We always travel only first class and always choose seats early even if it costs extra. Other people will choose the more desirable seats and you will get whatever is left if you don't. Good seats mean a lot on a long flight and $25 is just pocket change. I'd go ahead and choose right now if it was me.

I'd pay to choose a good seat. Aisle for me, across aisle for wife whenever possible. I'm tall and I need the legroom, plus the stimulus of the cart rolling over my foot now and then. And I can go to the bathroom many times on a long flight! All worth the ridiculous rapacious rotten lousy rip-off extra $25 the airline wants.

Reminds me of the old Tom Lehrer song, "My Home Town":

No fella could ignore the little girl next door.
She sure looked sweet in her first evening gown!

Now there's a charge for what she used to give for free in my home town.

I have flown the same itinerary that you will be traveling. Have you checked the seat configuration map for your flights? If the aircraft is a 767 with the 2-4-2 configuration you may be more comfortable with an aisle or window seat port or starboard. I even pay extra on international flights for Delta Comfort seats with more legroom and recline and seating near the front of the main cabin. My only disappointment with paying extra was an AlItalia flight from Rome to JFK where I paid for an emergency exit row seat. The seat area was cold and a few feet from the bathrooms. After a few hours the disinfectant smell of "blue juice" was overwhelming. I recommend viewing the seat map for available seats and the configuration. Personally, I avoid middle seats and seats near galleys.

Very few companies offer first class Terri Lynn. Did you mean business class? First class includes the limo ride onto the tarmac, its own lounge that differs from the business lounge, and costs about $10,000. I don't think any US-based companies still offer a first class.

And OP, Personally I'd pay.

I paid $90 to preselect seats with Lufthansa. It was an Ouch!!! I used to have the same mindset as Agnes but I'm claustrophobic so I need an aisle seat so I don't feel trapped or suffocated. And with a bad right knee, it has to be a port side aisle seat so I can stretch that leg.
If you have no reason to care where you're seated, you could wait. I just can't take the risk.

I paid $90 to preselect seats with Lufthansa. It was an Ouch!!! I used to have the same mindset as Agnes but I'm claustrophobic so I need an aisle seat so I don't feel trapped or suffocated. And with a bad right knee, it has to be a port side aisle seat so I can stretch that leg.
If you have no reason to care where you're seated, you could wait. I just can't take the risk.

Terri Lynn, what airline do you fly that charges to choose seats in First Class? For that matte, what airline even has First Class on long-haul flights? Many do not these days---they are 3-class planes. but if theydo have a First Class, AND charge to choose seats, how much is it? Surely more than $25.

We fly business class with miles on British Airways and do pay to choose our seats so can be sure to sit together. I like a window set, hubby likes the aisle, so we are both happy. But the seats cost $90or more, depending on the plane type.

It's been maybe 3 years since we've flown AA, United or Lufthansa; but use to fly them a lot and can't ever remember paying for a seat. Have been using Delta/KLM to get to Europe 3 times a year in recent years and have never paid for a seat assignment unless I missed some fine print or was just blind to it. I book directly with the airlines, usually Delta, so maybe that is why? And I always get the economy comfort seat on the long flight; and that does cost about $100 for the upgrade.

And I have been on plenty of flights to Europe with a first class section. Love those cocoon looking pod beds they have, but sadly, never been in one.

We are flying United's Polaris First to Paris in August. This was a $10,000 ticket - each - thank goodness for miles! Sadly no limo ride to the tarmac but still an impressive list of amenities. And yes - they are phasing out first.

I stand corrected. I pulled out the receipts on the trip i am currently on and I did pay KLM for the seats.

Yes, United lets you select economy seats in advance for free but Lufthansa and KLM/Air France charge. I wouldn't make my airline choice based solely on the seat selection charges -- there's also scheduling, meal quality, entertainment, baggage handling ...

"To Pay or Not to Pay? That is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrow of being confined to a middle seat for an eight plus hour flight or pay to have a choice of comfort and prevent a sea of troubles"

--Frank Shakespeare II

I pay

I'd pay it in a heartbeat too, but I'm one who would likely pay for convenience/comfort. Besides that, it's peace of mind knowing my family can sit together and my 12 year old isn't sitting with a stranger.

Personally, I view it as European carriers have merely unbundled the value of seat selection from the ticket fare. And if an individual places the greater value on a cheaper ticket rather than where they sit, thats great for them. If you're like myself and getting the seat you want is important (or a couple or family that wants to sit together, etc.), then you can choose to pay for that seat -- and I would simply consider that extra $25+ as part of the overall cost of the flight when considering prices and carriers. I am personally not going to begrudge the airlines maximizing their revenues.

As it is I choose to fly United and select my seats when I purchase my ticket.

I'd pay the fee: no question. There's no way I'd want to take the gamble of either myself or my husband being stuck in the middle for that long of a flight. As it is we've taken to booking aisle seats across from each other to sit "together" without one of us in a middle seat. As neither of us can sleep, it also allows us to get up, use the restrooms and stretch a bit without waking and crawling over other passengers. And if the passenger in front of me decides to fully recline into my lap for the entire 9 hours, it doesn't feel as claustrophobic.

Fortunately we haven't had to fork over that fee yet but as the airline industry is seemingly hellbent on making flying as miserable an experience as possible for economy passengers (reference today's news about American cutting more legroom) I imagine it's a joy we'll be experiencing sooner rather than later. 🙄

I always waited until 24 hours before the flight to pick my seat, for the last 17 years on BA. This year I did purchase my seats on a whim. I may have gotten a row or two closer to the front by choosing my seat, that's it. I have never had an issue getting an aisle seat across from my husband when waiting for the 24 hour window. But I acted within an hour of online check in. That being said, I did like choosing a head of time...felt like I was spoiling myself!

First, avoid picking an AF operated flight. When selecting from the options presented, read the details for each (you may have to click the down arrow to expand the section to get full details). When you return from this trip, please come back and let us know how your experience on AF and Delta differed.

And yes, I'd absolutely pay for a seat selection. Like many here, we pay to upgrade to Comfort + on Delta. It's usually between $100-$150 per person each way, and I make the reservation far enough in advance to get bulkhead seats, esp for the flight over. We need to be able to rest so we can be functional the first day, and a couple hundred bucks is not a lot when you consider the total cost of a day of travel to Europe.

So which airlines charge for early (per-chick in) seat selection? Can we make a list?

I'll start: British Airways, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa (all mentioned above)

I agree with VAP

As far as making a list of airlines....the fact that there aren't many readily accessible lists (found via 3 sec Google search) like these tells me something: it may not be worth one's time to do this because it's a constantly fluctuating list and/or it may not only be by airline, but also by exact flight. And it looks like at least 95% of folks on this forum gladly pay....so why is this "a thing"? Even if people here come up with a list, it likely won't be comprehensive...plus there is always a segment of fliers who can "escape" paying for extras like seat assignment due to their loyalty status so they may not pay much attention to this. Even an airline like Southwest, which has a very egalitarian system for getting a seat (meaning no pre-assignment), has gotten creative and allows folks to pay extra to board in Group A. Airlines will extract money using all sorts of creative ways - IMHO, it's better to look at the bottom line total cost than focus on the disparate parts of the bundle like seats. I'm glad someone here finally dispelled that myth that it only costs $25 - if it's $100-$150 per person each way added to a cost of a flight, that's not a pittance.

https://www.kayak.com/airline-fees
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/4564745/chart-what-it-costs-to-select-your-seat-location.html (from 2010)

We pay to upgrade to Comfort + on Delta. It's usually between
$100-$150 per person each way,

Ouch. $25 is one thing but $400 - $600 is another (for us).

Seat selection charges for me: Condor, Air France, BA. Even though traveling with a family of 5, I refused to pay beforehand and we were all seated together in 1 row on all flights, maybe a coincidence, or because tickets were purchased more than 6 months in advance.

No seat selection charges: Icelandair, Alitalia, Delta, FinnAir (Alitalia even allows free choice of exit rows at the $80 fare price point, maybe that's why they are going bankrupt?). I hear that Delta E fare requires payment for seat selection TATL.

Not being paid here but my recent Delta cheap seats rear section TATL flights-- wow, just great, maybe will spend more for them in the future.

It is not a myth that it costs $25---that is pretty standard for a regular seat in Economy. That $100-150 is for an upgrade to Economy Plus or whatever a given airline calls it. It is actually a separate class on most airlines---you have to book into it from the beginning, or pay for a class upgrade. Delta apparently lets you book into Economy and then pay for the upgrade as a seat choice. (My boss did this when he traveled on Delta to Europe on business---the company only paid for Economy and we convinced him to pay for the upgrade to Economy Plus---it was only $80 then. He was really glad to have the extra space---that is what you get in this class.

On British Airways which we fly, Economy Plus costs a lot more than Economy, but it is an upgrade not just in space but in meals and service. I think they get Business Class meals and service but jot the lie-flat seat. So it is several hundred dollars more than regular economy. And the seat choice in that class costs more than $50---but not as much as $100. That is more like the fee for choosing seats in Business Class ( not sure what it is today but I believe it is more than the $90 we paid last time we flew BA).

I just went to the BA website to see about paying to reserve business class seats for our return flight from LHR to AUS. The cost ranged from $108/pp for the crappy seats up to $133/pp for the more desirable seats.

Even a crappy seat in business isn't all that bad, and that is more than I am willing to pay.

Pay for seat selection? I'll punch a baby if it means getting the seat I want! I'm serious: I'm willing to cage-match an army of infants if it means I won't get seated by the loo as part of my "upgrade" -- I'm looking at YOU, Icelandair! "Oh, this is a nice seat -- it's right on the emergency exit row and if you don't mind idiots slamming the door to the loo all night, you'll love it!". Of course, the line of twits queuing to pollute the bog extended all the way to the tail galley and every single last man, woman and child slammed that damned door on their way out. Worse, as the night wore on, each time the door was opened or closed, a waft of air Fabreezed the cabin with a reek that was less 'Icelandic Spring Meadow' and more 'Tacoma During a Heat Wave'.

I'm sorry, that turned into a little bit of a rant.

That said, to Icelandair's credit, they don't charge you for either seat selection or for moving your seat once you've allegedly made up your mind, so going mano-a-mano with a toddler probably isn't in the offing. Unless there's betting involved -- I do love me some sports book! Wait, whaddaya mean the spread is 3:1 in Timmy's favor?

-- Mike Beebe

(NB: no infants were harmed in the writing of this post)

I hear ya, Kathy, but I have a tall and slightly flying-phobic husband to contend with. Those bulkhead seats are totally worth it to us - no one sleeping in my lap all night long! And typically one or both of the seats are booked with miles, so that eases the pain a bit.

It is not a myth that it costs $25---that is pretty standard for a regular seat in Economy.

Yes, but many people pay much more than that to upgrade their seats. So $25 should be seen as "the absolute minimum" and not the "mode" that most people pay. I've seen seat upgrade prices vary all over the place - $25, $39, etc on the same airline depending on the exact seat placement and dimensions (I'm thinking of United here).

I think some are mixing up paying for seat selection with paying for a seat upgrade.

I always pay the fee for seat selection on a long flight, never for ones between cities in Europe. My preference is window going over so I can rest undisturbed and arrive ready to hit the ground running. Coming home I go with the aisle, as I truly prefer to be able to drink enough water and get up as needed to use the bathroom. I have another odd reason for not selecting window on the way home: I fly into SFO and generally the plane is full of happy European vacationers who are absolutely giddy with glee to see the Golden Gate bridge (though some have mistakenly gotten excited over the San Mateo bridge, ha!), one couple broke out some champagne and took a selfie though I doubt the bridge showed up in it. I also don't want to be near the bathroom/galley as the lines of people waiting for bathroom can get irritating, nor do I want to be near the area where they seat people with small children. A low-numbered row also means you get off ahead of the crowd.

You can pay extra for a seat but if travelling alone you have no control over who sits next to you, and that can make an ever bigger difference to your enjoyment (or otherwise) of the flight than the location of the seat.

VAP--- totally agree some are confusing paying for seat selection ($25-$35 in most cases) with paying to upgrade to the next class of service ( EconomybPlus) or to a preferred seat like exit row. These are totally different things.

The OP started this thread to ask about Air France wanting her to pay $25 or the privilege of choosing her own seat in Economy in advance, rather than accepting what the airline assigns at check-in. More and more foreign carriers are doing this, but it comes as a surprise to some who have not flown abroad recently.

I thought it might help to prevent surprises if we could make a list of such carriers, from personal experience. One person seems to think that is pointless, because there are so many exceptions (status, etc.) but I expect people who qualify for the exceptions know all about this.

The higher prices mentioned here-$100 or more---are not for the privilege of choosing your seat in Economy (regular seat) in advance. Those higher prices are class upgrades---a totally different thing. Only on Delta it is a kind of hybrid situation---one can book into Economy and then pay $100 or more to select a seat in Economy Comfort. Whether one can book directly into one of those seats on Delta I do not know. We have never flown that airline and probably never will as our miles are with BA. And on other airlines, advance seat selection and class upgrades are totally different---and priced accordingly.

Bottom line: many people think $25 is a small price to pay for a favored seat (aisle or window) on a 9-10 hour flight. But if you don't mind risking a middle seat, you can skip paying and wait until check-in to see what the airline assigns you. And some airlines ( like BA),will let you choose a different seat at that time if one you like better is available.
.

I think some are mixing up paying for seat selection with paying for a
seat upgrade.

I'm thinking that too.

Here is my latest experience with Air Canada. I bought 3 cheap Rouge seats for Hawaii. At the time i booked, i looked at the seat selection and saw there were lots of empty good seats. I opted not to pay extra for seat selection. I waited until 24 hours before to departure to select seats. I ran into difficulties selecting/saving the seats, so i called customer service. It turns out that AC had already selected 3 seats for us. There were all together in the middle of the plane. The rep told me that AC will automatically select seats for us, based upon booking order and try to keep all seats on one booking together. They told me i could not select or save new seats because AC already did it for me. What i could still do is change seat selections if there are still empty seats available. But based upon what was still available, i opted to stay with the seats already assigned by AC.

I will continue not to pay extra for seat selection particularly if i book early and there are lots of empty good seats available at time of booking. I will just play the odds that i will be assigned decent seats. If i book late and if the seat selection shows only a few good contiguous seats left, i will probably spend the extra to grab them.