These days it is often easier finding cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages than it is avoiding airline fees.
Most airlines now charge fees for priority boarding and preferred economy seating programs. Passengers who want to get on a plane early and increase their chances of placing their carry-on in an overhead bin should be aware of how passengers receive preference from airlines.
Almost all airlines give their elite frequent fliers and elite frequent fliers of partner airlines preferential boarding and seating. The following is a breakdown of how passengers without such status can receive preferential treatment from major airlines:
American Airlines (AA) offers two ways of securing priority boarding seating. Their Boarding and Flexibility package includes admission to group one of general boarding, the chance to fly standby on an earlier flight and a $75 flight change discount. Prices vary by flight. A recent flight from Newark to Chicago charged $38 roundtrip per person for this service.
Alternatively, AA passengers can purchase Express Seats privileges that are only available for purchase within 24 house of departure on select flights. If you purchase the Express Seats option, you will be able to sit in the front of the plane and be in group one general boarding. The price of Express Seats varies by miles being flown. Rates appear to range from $19 to $39 per leg of the flight.
Continental offers an Extra Legroom Seats program where passengers pay to sit in the roomier parts of coach such as in the exit row. Early boarding privileges are not included. The fee for this program varies based on the length of flight, the market, and whether seats with extra legroom have limited or no recline.
Delta offers Economy Comfort Seats on select international flights. Passengers opting for this program are given four inches of extra legroom, priority boarding in zone two, 50 percent more space to recline, free alcoholic beverages and seat back video screens on some planes. Prices vary from $80 to $160 per segment.
Domestic Delta flights do not offer Economy Comfort, but most domestic flight offer a free Preferred Seats program which include exit row seats and seats in the front of the plane. These seats are only available to Delta or partner member elite frequent fliers.
United Airlines offer Economy Plus seats that come with up to five inches of extra legroom, for pricing ranging from $9 for a flight from Chicago to Madison up to $109 for a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo. United also offers Premier Line, which provides access to priority check in, priority security lines at select airport and priority boarding, starting at $9 each way. When available, either product can be purchased alone or together on Uniteds website after you have purchased your ticket.
US Airways has a ChoiceSeats premium program which offers seating in the front of the plane. These seats do not come with additional legroom. Passengers having purchased ChoiceSeats are allowed to board in zone two, after first class passengers and most other elites have boarded. US Airways only offers exit seating to its Preferred Dividend Miles members. Prices vary.
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