One of the perks of certain levels of frequent flyer status is that seat selection is free. Now that I have dropped from that level, it is confronting to see that I have to pay for my favourite seat in business class.
Needless to say, having been used to getting it for free, I am reluctant to do it. That being said, there are arguments for and against forking over some cash, so let’s have a look at them.
Why I Should Pay For My Favourite Seat
I am spectacularly picky when it comes to seating on board a flight. For example, on Aer Lingus I always choose row 3 or 6 as the window is easy to look out of while sitting comfortably. While not vital, it is a consideration for me.
Why I Shouldn’t Pay For My Favourite Seat
At the end of the day, everyone on the plane is going to the same place, so who cares? It’s business class, so the seats will be at the front and food will be served.
Overall Thoughts
Having to pay for my favourite seat – favourite really just being the seat as far forward as possible – is something I don’t really love doing. On airlines where I have never had it for free, such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair, sure, I go ahead and pay.
But in business class? When I am used to getting it for free? I am not sure whether I will go ahead and do it. Seems a little crazy in the grand scheme of things.
What about you? Are you someone who pays for seat selection or do you wait until check-in and get it free? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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I would say it depends on the airline. BA’s Club World seats are generally tight and uncomfortable and require stepping over someone else to get out of the window seats, so I would say pay the price for a bulkhead seat that avoids that and gives you free access to the aisle, or whatever preference you may have. I just look at as an overall price versus another airline, e.g. BA is 2,000 plus the 28 each way for a seat so total is really 2,056. Versus United or AA or whomever it is 1,900 all told. Add up the whole cost and compare schedule etc. Act like it is just a part of the price to get a full service business class seat.
That’s a good way to do it, and it is very relevant when booking on airlines that have broken out all the elements with their pricing. Sometimes a full service carrier that includes everything is cheaper than a low fares airline when you add the things you need such as baggage. Great advice there indeed! Thanks for the comment!
For me its a matter of flight length and a few other factors. I usually fly within North America and there are some airlines where it is worth it to fork over a few extra $$$ (or Pounds or Euros but I don’t have that option on my keyboard!). For example AA on certain planes,
( 319) its worth it to me to shell out for premium economy on flights over 3 hours. Don’t fly AA much but it can be worth it. This December I’m flying to Grand Cayman from St. Louis via ATL. DL has good leg room and STL-ATL is a little over an hour. ATL-GCM is a tad longer plus it pays to be off the plane earlier so I get through customs sooner. So I sprang for DL Comfort ATL-GCM-ATL. Southwest has “Early Bird Check-In” which is around $15 each way and gets you an earlier boarding group. Southwest is open seating and I love me a window seat so I usually treat myself to that. And of course if I were swimming in cash it would First Class all the way!
You make some very good points there, where it depends on certain aircraft which may have better seats to select. The same thing with getting off earlier to avoid queues at specific airports or things like that. I think I would certainly pay the $15 for Southwest to make sure I got a window seat too. I only ever sit in an aisle seat in economy on long haul flights, so I can get up and down as I wish. Otherwise I’m with you, windows all the way. Thanks for the comment!
I’m quite horrified at the prices for selecting a seat on their Club World cabin and I don’t think I can justify paying hundreds of euro for myself and my husband to get the seats we want for flights to India in February, but as we’ll be in the seats for so long, I would like to pick good ones. So it’s definitely a quandary!
I don’t think it’s worth paying £28 for a short-haul flight. There are so few Club Europe seats on their A320s surely it doesn’t make that much of a difference?
This is true, it is quite pricey on long haul flights. It’s handy for frequent flyers though, because they get their pick of the seats. I probably would go for it on a long flight, but then, it’s quite a good bit of spending money lost, when the Club World seats are all quite nice anyway.
Agreed on the short haul. It’s a lot of money to be 10 feet away from where you may have been for free. Thanks for the comment!