Seat assignment fees are air industry’s most hated
When it comes to much-dreaded airline fees, the most hated is the one for picking passenger’s own seat assignments, according to airfarewatchdog.com.
So said respondents in a 2,000-person poll. More than half gave the nod to seat assignments.
Only a handful of US airlines currently charge for seat selections but that number is expected to grow.
No wonder the complaints, adds watchdog.
"There are certain airline services that really do involve added expense," airfarewatchdog.com president Georgia Hobica told Reuters. "These include meals (for obvious reasons), transporting and checking bags (fuel and labor), and even to a certain degree changing your date of travel."
But he adds:
"Assigning a seat, which can be done online for virtually no transaction cost to the airline? It’s simply a way to generate revenue and not to cover a tangible expense. I think passengers realize this and that’s why they’re so annoyed by it."
Elsewhere, ticket-change fees were cited by about on-third in the poll, making it the second-most-hated fee.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers