It’s just part of the cost of flying if you don’t want a middle seat. If you are fine with a middle seat feel free not to pay. Don’t expect others to move so you can be with your family/friends.

I have small children and don’t pay. Happy to get a break from my 6 year old for three hours. He’s old enough to sit alone.

Anonymous wrote:Paying for seats (although it feels like an airline ripoff) is definitely worth it. I'm not doing middle seat ever.

I disagree. We paid for fancy seats once, on an overnight to Europe, and I didn’t think it was worth the extra cost. This is one area of life where being petite is an advantage!

Paying for seats (although it feels like an airline ripoff) is definitely worth it. I'm not doing middle seat ever.

Yes, I flew alone with the kids, and didn’t want to risk it, so chose our seats. It was cheaper than 50$, around 35$, but yes, I paid extra 200$ both ways to get the seats I want.

I do. And no I will it switch with you because you’re cheap.

Anonymous wrote:I would gladly pay that for an exit row on a long flight once my kids are older than 15.

The exit row seats are more. I just paid $100 I think. $50 is for a regular seat.

Some people pay that. If not enough people pay that then the price drops. How far out is the flight?

I fly SW a lot so it doesnt become an issue there. And with kids most good airlines will sit a parent next to a kid (mine are still under 10) We just went to Florida and American gave me free seat selection for 2 kids and one adult. I paid for dh to sit in the same row as us. For Europe, KLM and Air France give families seat selection for free.

We paid a $35 seat fee for our teen flying alone after the airline did a plane change that disappeared his reserved seat.

Irritating but too close to departure to spend time on hold to fix it.

I would if traveling with a kid, but otherwise not worth it to me. I can sit by myself and read a book for a few hours, as can my spouse and teens.

We don’t pay $50 to sit together. We might $50 to avoid basic economy or depending on flight length we might pay $50 for an exit row.

I would gladly pay that for an exit row on a long flight once my kids are older than 15.

Many don't, and then they ask you to switch with them so they can sit with their girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/kid/whoever. So irritating! If you just take whichever seat and don't really care about sitting with your spouse that you see every day anyway, it's no big deal.

I have not flown in a year or saw. I am amazed that picking seats it is so expensive. Luckily we are not traveling with kids anymore. It is like a 25% increase. Hopefully we will still be near each other but for $200 we can reconnect after the flight.