During a long flight, it is always more comforting to sit next to someone that you know rather than being caught between strangers. If you're planning on sitting with your family on your next flight, think again. Airlines may start charging extra for seats that are together.
Airlines are already starting to reserve window and aisle seats for elite frequent fliers and passengers who are willing to pay extra for specific spots. While this is boosting revenue for the airlines, it's leaving less seats together, making it inconvenient for family members who want to sit next to each other during a flight. With summer travel expected to pick up significantly, it may be close to impossible to find seats together on practically full airplanes.
Airlines have been trying many ways to boost revenue to keep up with higher fuel costs. In the past five years, passengers have paid extra fees for checked bags, watching TV, skipping security lines and boarding early. Now seat reservations are part of the newest attempt to make a better profit, while inconveniencing travelers.
Family members are finding themselves paying at least $25 extra to sit next to their loved ones, each way. This seems like an unfair deal as plane ticket prices are already through the roof, averaging $431 for a domestic round-trip ticket, according to Kayak.com.
A way to try to prevent this is by purchasing tickets at least two months in advance. Maybe you'll even be lucky if a gate agent or flight attendant takes pity on you and your young child whose ticket shows a seat in a different row. Gate agents can sometimes put families in seats set aside for disabled passengers or ask others to move.
Also, there is a chance to get a new seat assignment for free starting five days before departure if elite fliers are upgraded to first class and more seats become available. More seats are released 24 hours in advance when passengers are able to start checking in online.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
