United Airlines to add fees for economy seats near front of the plane

United Airlines says it will start charging economy passengers for seats near the front of the plane.

 

United Airlines has announced it will soon charge extra money for passengers reserving seats near the front of the plane.

 

The new policy will allow passengers the option to pay more for basic seats that only offer the additional convenience of being closer to the front of the plane.

 

United Airlines president, Scott Kirby, said: “We’ve got Economy Plus today, which has more legroom, but there are also rows that don’t have more legroom but they are at the front of the airplane.

 

“We are now going to let those people select those seats as well for a fee.”

 

Economy passengers can still sit in the forward seats free of charge if any remain available during check-in.

 

The new plan is already practised by others carriers, notably American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

 

United’s new “preferred” fees will be introduced later this year.