HIDDEN FEE
Seat selection fee
Seat reservation feeChoose-your-seat fee
Airlines increasingly charge to reserve a particular seat in advance, with higher prices for extra legroom, windows or seats near the front. If you do not pay, most airlines still assign a seat for free at check-in — but a group travelling together may be split up unless someone pays.
Where it applies
How to avoid or shrink it
- If you do not mind where you sit, skip it — a free seat is allocated at check-in on most airlines.
- Check in the moment online check-in opens to improve the free seats you are offered.
- Frequent-flyer status or a fare bundle often includes free seat selection.
THE HONEST CAVEAT
The risk airlines lean on is being separated from your party. If you are travelling solo and flexible, seat fees are usually pure optional cost.
Count it in your true total
Run a specific booking through the calculator and this fee is counted — sourced, dated and confidence-graded alongside everything else the headline price leaves out.
Back to the full fee glossary, or browse the Hidden-Fee Index.