Originally Posted by
EAJuggalo
Carrier agnostic and fly 4-5 RT per year, usually on OPM where I don't get a choice. On all three major US carriers in the last few months I've noticed that the depth of the "preferred" window and aisle seats has been going back further, as has the cost of those assignments. I booked a four segment DL itinerary last night and in order to not be in the last three available rows, it would cost me $100 to have a window or aisle. Moving up to C+ was $110. Same thing with AA, had to pay $29 OOP to select a "preferred" seat just so I didn't have a middle. I can somewhat understand the first couple rows, but when more than half of your Y seats are "preferred" are they really preferred or are they just not hated?
They aren't, but they will eventually start getting renamed "premium" and the whole cycle will start again. How to resolve this? Vote with your wallet. There will always be airlines who will see the benefits of not charging (as much) or offering something that the others do. Pick those airline(s) and promote those airlines where possible (eg, it doesn't really make sense to promote Jet Blue when you're at a United hub and don't have the breadth of destinations to go to).