It’s one thing to make an airline reservation, but then you have to navigate the often confusing game of picking a seat, that often comes with an additional expensive price tag.
And airline seating charts can be deceptive and misleading. Some airlines simply charge a premium for any coach seat closer to the front of the cabin, and that includes middle seats.
Or they show every available aisle or window seat, at an additional cost.
The reality is that airlines hold back many of these better seats for the ultra-frequent fliers.
The question is, when do they release them prior to the flight departure?
Many only release these blocked seats just two hours before flight time. So if the flight is showing a lot of open pricy coach seats, you should wait and get assigned one closer to flight time, for free. Remember, you already hold a ticket for the flight and you’re already guaranteed a seat.