Originally Posted by
Fatpenguin
You only have to pay if you buy a discounted fare, if you pay for the top fare you can select your seat at time of booking.
Not true.
Except for first class cabin, you have to pay to select a seat in advance of the 24 hour check-in window, unless you have elite status with BA or One World.
This is why I highly value my One World Emerald status as an AA elite, being able to freely select seats on BA regardless of class of flight I book.