This Junk Airline Fee Could Cost You Up to $900 per Person

I'm old enough to remember the days when all checked bags on flights were free, meals were complimentary, and you could be reasonably sure your bags would make it to your destination. Oh, how the times have changed.

Rising ticket prices are already enough for flyers to contend with without junk fees and costly inconveniences. But there's one fee in particular that has gotten especially out of hand, with one airline charging up to $900 per person. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to beat once you know how it works.

This is the epitome of a junk airline fee

Back in the day, airlines used to enable you to choose seats on all of your flights when you checked in at no charge. This was useful for groups of people, especially families with young kids, who wanted to keep everyone together. It was also a plus for solo travelers who wanted to stay out of the dreaded middle seat.

Then airlines got greedy and they realized they could charge customers for this privilege they'd been enjoying for free for decades. This practice has become widespread over the last several years, and it's taking a toll on consumers.

The airline with the highest fees I found while researching was Spirit, which charges as much as $900 to customers who want to reserve one of its big front seats in advance of the flight. Even choosing a regular seat on Spirit could cost travelers as much as $200. That's per person and per flight. If you have layovers, you could wind up draining your bank account to reserve your seat on all your flights.

For most people, the fees aren't that bad. Average seat selection costs range from $10 to $15, but a lot depends on the seat you want and the airline. The time of year you're flying and the destination could also affect these fees. If you'd rather avoid them altogether, there's a simple solution.

How to avoid paying seat selection fees

You aren't required to choose a seat when you check into your flights. If you don't, the airline will randomly assign one to you. Those who go this route will avoid the seat selection fee, but there's a chance they wind up in an undesirable seat, like the middle of a row at the tail end of the plane. For many, though, this small inconvenience is worth the savings.

However, there are a few times when it makes sense to pay the extra. If you're traveling with young children and the airline you're flying with doesn't have a policy that automatically places children with at least one parent, you probably want to pay a little extra to be sure your child isn't seated alone.

You might also want to pick your seat if you have a very short layover and need to disembark quickly to make your next flight. Those with travel rewards credit cards that help them save on their tickets or baggage fees also may prefer to choose their own seats, since they saved in other areas.

It's ultimately your choice. Just know it's a choice that's not easily undone. The airline won't give you your money back if you regret paying for a seat. And if you don't choose a seat, you'll get stuck with whatever the airline assigns you. You may be able to change this at the gate, but it's not a guarantee. So weigh both options and decide which you're comfortable with before you check in for your upcoming flight.