First time flying united in years - they charge extra for regular seats in the middle of the airplane???

[Anonymous]

Normally we fly Southwest to visit family. This time United was $800 cheaper, so we are flying United for the first time in several years - what is up with having to pay extra for "preferred seats" which are just regular normal seats that just happen to be in the middle of the airplane? For our family of four, the only "free" seats available on our $400 tickets were the last row in the back of the airplane. If we wanted, we could pay $20/person for the privilege of sitting in the exact same seats, just in the middle of the airplane. There are no perks, no extra legroom or anything, they're just in the middle of the airplane. I am so annoyed at all the nickel and diming!! Just needed to vent.

[Anonymous]

This is common practice now. American and Delta do it.

[Anonymous]

Yep. It stinks. They don’t care about us. We are just cattle they ship to and fro and we turn into dollars for them.

[Anonymous]

This is why there are so many complaints about being asked to move seats so a family can be together. Most people are paying extra for their seats so no one wants to forgo that money and let people who often didn't pay to sit together.

[Anonymous]

so take the free seats in the back of the plane

do NOT take free seats apart and then ask people to switch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so take the free seats in the back of the plane

do NOT take free seats apart and then ask people to switch

I just booked a United flight for a couple weeks out and free seats were not an option on what looked to be an empty flight.

[Anonymous]

It's normal. A huge marketing fail on the airline's part. They should market the middle seats as the "normal" price, and the undesirable seats (or no seat selection, you get what you get even if they're not all together) as a discount.

But, yeah ... obviously you also think those seats are better, so why shouldn't they be worth more? Do you normally expect to order a drink from a restaurant, get a glass of champagne, and pay for a beer? Pay for hamburger and get a filet mignon? No, you get what you pay for. And that's now true for airline seats as well. If they really were "the exact same seats", you wouldn't care about not getting them. Whoever thinks it's worth the extra cost will get them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. It stinks. They don’t care about us. We are just cattle they ship to and fro and we turn into dollars for them.

Ha ha yes just cattle being flown at 500mph in climate controlled seats, with access to hundreds of movies, free texting with friends, crossing the country in 5 hours. Jesus take a little perspective.

[Anonymous]

Just paid $37/pp extra (was already paying one level from the top) so I could sit next to my 6 and 11 year olds on jet blue on a flight that only offered economy. I think this is pretty standard

[Anonymous]

It’s SO, SO annoying. The nickel and dining is beyond irritating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just paid $37/pp extra (was already paying one level from the top) so I could sit next to my 6 and 11 year olds on jet blue on a flight that only offered economy. I think this is pretty standard

This is a scam, you’re entitled to sit with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just paid $37/pp extra (was already paying one level from the top) so I could sit next to my 6 and 11 year olds on jet blue on a flight that only offered economy. I think this is pretty standard

This is a scam, you’re entitled to sit with them.

In theory. But as you see above, if the airline messes up, or you have to change planes, everything goes awry and they let the passengers fight amongst themselves. While pocketing the preferred seat fees. It's brilliant, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Normally we fly Southwest to visit family. This time United was $800 cheaper, so we are flying United for the first time in several years - what is up with having to pay extra for "preferred seats" which are just regular normal seats that just happen to be in the middle of the airplane? For our family of four, the only "free" seats available on our $400 tickets were the last row in the back of the airplane. If we wanted, we could pay $20/person for the privilege of sitting in the exact same seats, just in the middle of the airplane. There are no perks, no extra legroom or anything, they're just in the middle of the airplane. I am so annoyed at all the nickel and diming!! Just needed to vent.

Are you sure this is accurate? I fly United all the time. The seats that don’t have an up-charge are usually the last 15 rows or so- more rows on larger aircraft, used on international routes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Normally we fly Southwest to visit family. This time United was $800 cheaper, so we are flying United for the first time in several years - what is up with having to pay extra for "preferred seats" which are just regular normal seats that just happen to be in the middle of the airplane? For our family of four, the only "free" seats available on our $400 tickets were the last row in the back of the airplane. If we wanted, we could pay $20/person for the privilege of sitting in the exact same seats, just in the middle of the airplane. There are no perks, no extra legroom or anything, they're just in the middle of the airplane. I am so annoyed at all the nickel and diming!! Just needed to vent.

Are you sure this is accurate? I fly United all the time. The seats that don’t have an up-charge are usually the last 15 rows or so- more rows on larger aircraft, used on international routes.

I am surprised there are any free seats. Usually the United Basic does not let you pick a seat at all.

[Anonymous]

Same. I just flew with a child on united and the only seats we could reserve together without paying extra were the very back row.

Certainly leaves you feeling ripped off.