Summary American Airlines introduced seat selection fees in the late 2000s, now charging up to $160 for extra-legroom seats. Seat selection fees can vary with factors like flight duration and seat location, with elite status passengers getting free preferred seating. Department of Transportation may pass the FAIR Fee Act to end child-seat separation fees, potentially eliminating seat selection fees.
American Airlines is among the many carriers that charge seat selection fees. In doing so, American Airlines is one of the eight carriers that collectively drew $4.2 billion in seat charges in 2022 .
In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know about the seat selection fees of this flag carrier of the US. Window or aisle? Front or back? Which seat offers passengers the most comfortable option for their flight? When did AA start its seat selection fees? According to USA Today , airlines such as AA started to experiment with seat selection fees in the latter years of the aughties. Only a decade later, the seat selection fees were gaining traction, and currently, airlines are charging as much as hundreds of dollars for seat selection.
What is the average cost of AA's seat selection fee? Major Airlines in the US charge $33, on average, for their preferred seat, as documented by the 2023 Cartrawler Report Series by IdealWorks Company . The report also showed that the average seat selection fee for the exit row was $48, while that for the last row was $18. Accordin.