With all the competition between cities and airlines, it’s inevitable the airlines will find new and creative ways to increase revenue. The latest gimmick is a seat fee.
You might pay $50 for what the airline calls a preferred seat but it’s really just the same seat towards the front of the plane. You might not board early. You probably won’t get a free drink. You’ll just get to choose where you sit.
I admit I have paid some of these fees recently. On a ten hour flight to Europe, I did not want to sit in the back of the plane and I forked over $120 for the two of us. I may not ever do it again. It’s terribly expensive.