MINNEAPOLIS — With kids who live across the country, Jeff Daley of Mound, Minn. says he's used to long waits in airports.
“We've got to sit here until two o'clock,” said Daley, who was at the Minneapolis-St.Paul Airport Wednesday with his son and daughter.
But time's not the only thing he's spending more of when his family flies, sometimes paying hundreds of dollars so their seats will be together.
“You pay a lot,” Daley said. “(But) I'd rather have my kid sitting by me rather than in the front of the plane or in the back of the plane.”
Once a hallmark of budget carriers like Spirit, now major airlines like Delta, American and--just this week—United are charging extra to choose select seats. They're regular seats in the main cabin with no extra legroom or other perks, but the airlines call them "preferred" because they're often closer to the front, allowing you to get on and off a flight faster.
Travel agent Theresa Williams who co-owns Escape With Us Vacations in St Paul says about 20% of seats on most flights are now pegged as “preferred.” The airlines say certain elite level flyers will be able to reserve them at no extra charge, and that they automatically put kids under 14 next to their parents.
But Williams says the policies are both costly and confusing.
“It's frustrating for us because a lot of those fees are not disclosed until you've made a purchase,” said Williams, “And it's frustrating for the consumer as well.”
Here's an example: We checked a Delta flight for February from Minneapolis to Los Angeles where picking so-called preferred seats in the 19th and 21st rows added $79.00 each way. That makes the ticket price 56% more, but many travelers will pay it.
“You could be in a situation where if you do not purchase advance seat assignments, you may not be sitting next to your family,” said Williams.
That's exactly what's happened to Jeff Daley and his kids, who say when they take a trip together they don't want to sit apart.
“It's a pain,” said Daley. “(But) what do you do? They've got you.”
Airlines are not required to disclose seat fee revenue, so there's no way to know how much they're making from these new policies.
But Jet Blue, Southwest and Alaska are three airlines that still aren't charging for any main cabin seats.
United's president says the seat fees are no different than paying higher prices to sit closer to the front at a concert or a sporting event.
