When it comes to much-dreaded airline fees, the most hated is the one for picking passenger’s own seat assignments, according to airfarewatchdog.com.
So said respondents in a 2,000-person poll. More than half gave the nod to seat assignments.
Only a handful of US airlines currently charge for seat selections but that number is expected to grow.
No wonder the complaints, adds watchdog.
"There are certain airline services that really do involve added expense," airfarewatchdog.com president Georgia Hobica told Reuters. "These include meals (for obvious reasons), transporting and checking bags (fuel and labor), and even to a certain degree changing your date of travel."
But he adds:
"Assigning a seat, which can be done online for virtually no transaction cost to the airline? It’s simply a way to generate revenue and not to cover a tangible expense. I think passengers realize this and that’s why they’re so annoyed by it."
Elsewhere, ticket-change fees were cited by about on-third in the poll, making it the second-most-hated fee.
By David Wilkening
