Airlines are forever coming up with new ways to add fees to flights. Among the most convoluted in recent years are airline seat selection fees. Where once your seat was bundled with your ticket, today most airlines see seats as another money making opportunity.
Not all airlines charge for seats. And of those that do, fees vary from a few dollars to a lot – especially compared to the base ticket price. In this guide I’ll show you how to compare fees across airlines and select the right seat for your needs without overpaying.
What are seat selection fees?
When you search for an economy fare, the price you’ll see advertised is usually for the bare bones ticket. Once you’ve chosen your flight, most airlines now prompt you to select a seat as part of the booking process – and pay for the privilege. This might be for the seat alone or as part of an upgrade bundle that includes other so-called perks.
No airlines force you to select and pay for a seat. But their booking processes often make it confusing enough to think you have to. This is part of a wider ecosystem of ancillary fees in most airline booking processes, known as “drip pricing”. It includes having to pay for things like carry-on and checked baggage, priority boarding, fare upgrades and even airport check-in.
Why do airlines charge seat selection fees?
Airlines charge for seat selection because it’s a way to monetize comfort and convenience. And while prices vary greatly and change dynamically depending on uptake, there is a logic behind them.
Full-service airlines like Delta, United and American often allocate standard economy seats as part of the base fare, then charge for upgrades. Many also now offer a budget fare without seat selection.
These airlines segment cabins into priceable buckets targeting different types of flyer based on what they’re willing to pay. Business travelers at the front for a quick exit, price-sensitive vacationers at the back, and so on.
Low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier unbundle every component of the flying experience, meaning seat allocation isn’t included in the base fare. If you don’t want to pay for a specific seat, you’ll get one allocated free of charge. But if you want to avoid or select certain seats, you’ll need to pay to guarantee it.
All airlines now charge for the most desirable economy seats on the plane. Seats at the front of the cabin cost more than the back, but extra legroom is the real draw. Front, bulkhead and exit row seats are most popular – and priced accordingly.
Seat selection fees broken down by airline and region.
Airlines don’t charge fixed fees for seats, which is why it’s frustratingly hard to find that information online. Instead, they use dynamic pricing to wring every cent out of flyers based on route, date, base fare and demand.
U.S. airline seat selection fees.
| Airline | Seat selection fee |
|---|---|
| American Airlines | Seat selection fees vary by fare and route. All Main Cabin fares let you select a free seat. Basic Economy fares charge to select a seat in advance. |
| Delta Air Lines | Seat selection fees depend on fare and route. Delta Main Basic fares don’t have seats assigned, but all other fare types do. |
| JetBlue Airways | Seat selection fees depend on fare. Blue Basic fares don’t have seats assigned, but all other fare types do. |
| Southwest Airlines | Unique for not allocating seats at all, Southwest has no paid seat selection for any fare or route. Change is afoot though. From 27 January 2026, seat selection will be free only for Choice fares. Basic fares will have back-of-the-cabin seats allocated at check-in, with the option to pay for an upgrade. |
| United Airlines | Seat selection fees depend on fare and route. With a Basic Economy fare you must pay to select a seat in advance. All other fare classes include seat selection. |
International airline seat selection fees.
| Airline | Seat selection fee |
|---|---|
| British Airways | Seat selection fees vary by fare, cabin and route. You can choose your seat for free from 24 hours before departure when check-in opens unless you’ve booked a Basic ticket, where you’ll have to pay to select a seat. |
| easyJet | You’ll need to pay to select any seat type. Fees vary by flight. If you don’t select a seat, one will be randomly assigned to you. |
| Emirates | Seat selection fees depend on fare type, travel class, Skywards status and route. With Economy Special and Economy Saver tickets, you’ll need to pay to select any seat. Other tickets offer free standard seat selection with paid upgrades. Emirates’ indicative fees for seat selection range dramatically from $7 to $260. |
| Lufthansa | Seat selection fees vary by route and seat category. Economy class Classic Seats are free on some routes but paid for on most, including long haul. You can also pay for Sleeper’s Row on long-haul flights – a whole row of three or four economy seats with a mattress, blanket and pillow. |
| Ryanair | You’ll need to pay to select any seat type. Fees vary by flight. If you don’t select a seat, one will be randomly assigned to you. |
Is it worth paying for a seat on a plane?
That depends on a variety of factors that determine what value you get for your money.
It can be worth paying for:
- Long haul and overnight flights: The longer the flight, the more important comfort becomes. If you want to settle in and sleep, pay to avoid middle seats and cramped rows.
- Groups: The only way to guarantee you’ll sit with friends or family on many airlines is to pay.
- Quick deboarding: When time is an issue – say for a tight connection or to avoid long immigration lines – pay for a front-of-plane seat.
- Personal preference: If like me you’re too tall to get comfy in a standard economy seat, pay for an upgrade on flights longer than two hours.
It may not be worth paying for:
- Short haul flights: On flights around two hours or less, the comfort difference between paid and allocated seats is minimal.
- Budget travel: On flights where cost is more important than comfort.
- Flying solo: If you don’t care where you sit or who it’s next to.
- Off-peak travel: Quieter times and routes often mean free seats on the plane, so you may be able to choose where to sit without paying.
How to avoid seat selection fees – or at least minimize them.
A few practical, tactical seat selection hacks to help you reduce seat selection fees, or avoid them altogether.
- Skip seat selection: Not selecting a seat doesn’t mean you won’t get one. If you’re relaxed either way, check in early and hope you get a good one.
- Book an airline with lower fees: Some airlines charge a lot less for seats than others, even on similar planes and routes. In the U.S., Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue and United are among the cheapest.
- Use membership status or credit card perks: Some airlines waive seat fees for elite status members.
- Book only adult seats: Flying with kids? Pay only for the adult seats – most airlines will sit children with a parent without the need to book their seats.
Airline seat selection fee FAQs.
That depends on several factors I’ve covered in this article, from who you’re flying with, for how long and what your personal preferences are. If you don’t select a seat, you’ll be allocated one when checking in.
Different seats come with different fees, so you know what you’re paying for. The more you pay, the better the seat – more legroom, nicer cabin, quicker deboarding, etc.
Yes, many loyalty schemes and affiliated credit cards offer seat selection as a perk. These often only extend to standard seats though, so you’ll likely need to pay for upgrades like extra legroom.
Yes – just like airfares, seat selection fees are dynamic and will change according to demand and proximity to departure date, among other factors.
