How much does it cost to kick back in comfort?
As airlines try to offset the high price of jet fuel and remain profitable, they’ve unbundled their fares, asking passengers to pay for the things that were once part of the price of the ticket. Meals, drinks, baggage and seating, with few exceptions, have price tags on them. In this tip, Cheapflights.co.uk looks at what some of the most popular airlines are charging for a few extra inches of legroom.
One thing to note if you’re considering paying for an exit-row seat is that not all passengers are eligible. In general, travellers with disabilities and children under the age of 14 are not allowed to book these seats.
| Airline | Extra legroom seats? | Assigned seating? |
| Aer Lingus | €15 / £10 (short haul) €40 / $40 (long haul) | Yes, via Manage Your Booking. Short-haul seat fees start from €5 and long-haul seat fees start from €20/$30/£17 where applicable. |
| Air Berlin | XL seats €20 / £18 (short haul), €60 / £54 (long haul) | Yes, during web check-in. Reserve seats – €11.99 (short haul) €16.99 (long haul). |
| Air France | €50 on flights shorter than nine hours, €70 on flights longer than nine hours | During booking or via “Manage your reservations” |
| Alitalia | Prices depend on the duration of flight | During booking process or check-in. |
| Iberia | Tourist XL – €10 domestic Spanish flights, €15 Canaries, European flights, flights to North Africa and the Middle East, €65 intercontinental flights (America and South Africa). | During booking process or via Booking Management. Seat reservation for flights within Spain, except for the Canary Islands, is €4. For flights to the Canary Islands, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (except South Africa) seat reservation costs €10. Flights to America and South Africa the seat reservation cost is €30. All seat reservations must be made 24 hrs before departure. |
| First Choice | Extra Space seats cost between £20 and £70 depending on destination. | During booking process. Seats can be reserved for an extra fee. |
| Lufthansa | Not bookable | Seats can be reserved in Economy Class on intercontinental flights, but not on domestic German or European flights (in Economy Class). To choose your own seat, check-in online, via mobile or at airport check-in machines. |
| British Airways | £50/€60/$75 for exit row seats between 14 and 4 days before departure. | Euro travellers and passengers on UK domestic flights can pay £5 / €6 / $8 to choose a seat from the time of booking up to 25 hours before departure at Manage My Booking online. World travellers can pay £25 / €30 / $38 to choose a seat from the time of booking up to 25 hours before departure at Manage My Booking online. Passengers choose a seat free of charge at check-in, from 24 hours before departure. |
| easyJet | £12 for extra legroom seats. | Between £0.99 and £15.99 depending on the row. If you don’t book a seat, a seat will be allocated at check-in. |
| Flybe | Extra legroom seats can be booked at a cost of £15 / €22 / 35CHF on Flybe.com or £16 / €22 / 36CHF by telephone or at the airport. | Yes, but seats can be reserved for £6.50 / €9 / 14CHF on Flybe.com, £8 / 11 / 16CHF by telephone or at the airport. |
| Germanwings | A Best Seat with extra legroom costs €18 / £15 and can be reserved up to 3 hrs before the flight. | Standard seats can be reserved for €10 / £8 up to three hrs before departure. Otherwise seats are assigned at check-in. |
| Jet2 | Fee depends on length of flight – from £4.99. | Standard seat selection costs from £2.49 depending on flight. Alternatively, seats are allocated at check-in. |
| KLM | Seats in Economy Comfort zone on intercontinental flights can be purchased for between €50 and €160 (90 days until 48 hours before take-off) via Manage my Booking. | €30 to reserve preferred seat. During booking, via Manage My Booking online or check-in. |
| Monarch | Between £9.99 and £29.99 for an extra-legroom seat on scheduled flights. Charter flights – £15 for short haul flights, £25 for flights to Canaries, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria and £40 for long haul. | Seats can be pre-booked – £3.99 per seat for a scheduled flight and for charter flights £8 per person, per sector for short/mid-haul routes and £10 per person, per sector for long-haul routes. |
| Ryanair | Bookable from £10. | Seats can be reserved for £10 online, at the airport ticket desk or via a call centre. Priority boarding available for £5 per person per way, during the booking process or via Manage My Booking or £6 per person per way, via a call centre or at the airport ticket desk. |
| Thomson Flights | Extra Space seats cost between £20 and £70 depending on destination. | Seats can be selected for £6. Alternatively, seats are allocated at check-in. |
| Wizz Air | Extra legroom seats cost £9 (€11) online or via call centre or £14 (€16) at the airport. | Seats can be reserved at a cost of £7 online or through the call centre and £14 at the airport. Wizz Xpress priority boarding costs £3 (€4) online or via call centre or £6 (€8) at the airport. |
