Is it just me or has United further limited the "free" seat choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is largely fiction. We fly 3-4x a year domestically. Always book far in advance, always get to select seats, never pay extra.

OP here. I never said I didn't get to select seats for free. I picked free seats together that is NOT the problem. The problem is the percentage of free seats vs those seats that you have to pay extra for seems to be shrinking every year.

Yes and I don't think it matters how early you book. They have them blocked off as soon as they release to make $$

Well obviously OP thinks the middle of the plane seats are “better” or else she wouldn’t prefer them. Why shouldn’t they cost more? They are more desirable (to OP.) Otherwise just take the free seats. Whine whine whine.

Sorry I didn't realize I was forbidden from finding something annoying! The horror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

Doubt you are paying that much be grateful budget fliers like yourself have the opportunity to pay low and sit in the back we pay for business / first and haven't noticed much changes in prices

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yup. And last time we did this, they actually reassigned our seats anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

Doubt you are paying that much be grateful budget fliers like yourself have the opportunity to pay low and sit in the back we pay for business / first and haven't noticed much changes in prices

Dang, are you really this condescending IRL? “Be grateful budget fliers such as yourself…” I’m not PP but we just spent close of $7k for flights for 4 people for later this year in economy class. But I guess the non rich need to just shut up and deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

If this is truly your reason for paying for seats, I really dont know what to tell you. Well, I do, but it isn't very polite.

I appreciate everyone’s concern. I do NOT pay the additional fee for preferred seats, because this is literally the only advantage you receive, aside from exiting the plane 5 minutes sooner.

I can confirm, however, by the time they get to the back of the plane, they only have pretzels and fruit bars available, so pack your own chocolate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

If this is truly your reason for paying for seats, I really dont know what to tell you. Well, I do, but it isn't very polite.

I appreciate everyone’s concern. I do NOT pay the additional fee for preferred seats, because this is literally the only advantage you receive, aside from exiting the plane 5 minutes sooner.

I can confirm, however, by the time they get to the back of the plane, they only have pretzels and fruit bars available, so pack your own chocolate.

Its okay we know how good the Quiona chocolate treats are. They are bigger now too!

[Anonymous]

I think you are right that they made this change. BUT sometimes I fly basic economy if I’m with my teens and we’d survive being split up or getting a middle seat. They’ve never actually split us up and sometimes we end up with seats further forward!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are right that they made this change. BUT sometimes I fly basic economy if I’m with my teens and we’d survive being split up or getting a middle seat. They’ve never actually split us up and sometimes we end up with seats further forward!

This is true! Sometimes you get really good eats because no one paid!

Honestly to me it sounds like the airline accurately identified something that certain people are willing to pay for. And instead of proving the airlines wrong, people pay first and complain after, sealing their own fate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are right that they made this change. BUT sometimes I fly basic economy if I’m with my teens and we’d survive being split up or getting a middle seat. They’ve never actually split us up and sometimes we end up with seats further forward!

This is true! Sometimes you get really good eats because no one paid!

Honestly to me it sounds like the airline accurately identified something that certain people are willing to pay for. And instead of proving the airlines wrong, people pay first and complain after, sealing their own fate.

Surely we’ve seen enough multi-page threads about people being asked to switch seats and complaining that the family didn’t pay to pick assigned seats to know this isn’t true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Global Services so I can’t really relate, sorry.

I fly private so have never seen the inside of a commercial airplane. I just assumed it was metal benches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are right that they made this change. BUT sometimes I fly basic economy if I’m with my teens and we’d survive being split up or getting a middle seat. They’ve never actually split us up and sometimes we end up with seats further forward!

This is true! Sometimes you get really good eats because no one paid!

Honestly to me it sounds like the airline accurately identified something that certain people are willing to pay for. And instead of proving the airlines wrong, people pay first and complain after, sealing their own fate.

Surely we’ve seen enough multi-page threads about people being asked to switch seats and complaining that the family didn’t pay to pick assigned seats to know this isn’t true.

I mean, plenty of people ARE paying thought. Everyone doesn’t have to pay, just enough and it’s worth it to the airlines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

Doubt you are paying that much be grateful budget fliers like yourself have the opportunity to pay low and sit in the back we pay for business / first and haven't noticed much changes in prices

Dang, are you really this condescending IRL? “Be grateful budget fliers such as yourself…” I’m not PP but we just spent close of $7k for flights for 4 people for later this year in economy class. But I guess the non rich need to just shut up and deal with it.

Lol where are you travelling for 7k

[Anonymous]

The one that annoyed me was American Airlines, which charged me extra for an aisle regular economy seat assignment (long ago, before Basic Economy existed, and these were not plus or comfort seats; I had and have zero status with AA which probably was why).

These days almost we almost always fly UA, where my Gold status means we can reserve E+ seats at time of booking at no cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean I booked 6 months out. The issue is not a lack of seats in general. Like I found seats together no issue! The issue is that the first 32 rows on the plane require an extra fee. I just feel like it used to be better, and it seems a little ridiculous that 2/3 of the seats on a plane require an extra cost.

But I also think preferred economy is crap. I mean you aren't even paying for more leg room. You are just paying to sit closer to the front of the plane. I just feel like the preferred economy seats have expanded lately.

Yes! I’m paying an arm and a leg for my family to sit together, and then they want to charge even more to sit toward the middle of the plane so I can get served before the decent snack selection runs out! I want my thimble sized chocolate quinoa puff!

Doubt you are paying that much be grateful budget fliers like yourself have the opportunity to pay low and sit in the back we pay for business / first and haven't noticed much changes in prices

Dang, are you really this condescending IRL? “Be grateful budget fliers such as yourself…” I’m not PP but we just spent close of $7k for flights for 4 people for later this year in economy class. But I guess the non rich need to just shut up and deal with it.

Totally agree. So annoying and holier than though. Yes, OP, I noticed. We fly a lot on United because kid lives in SF. We just went to CA for Christmas and paid extra in economy to avoid sitting in the very back of the plane. So annoying! We were so fed up on the way home that we did something we only did once before...we paid to upgrade to first class. We're usually very frugal boomers, so it was a splurge for us.