United CEO Defends $70 Seat Selection Fee (simpleflying.com)

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby defended charging non-frequent flyers up to $70 to select a window or aisle seat instead of a middle seat, telling The New York Times that "there are customers that pay more that get more." A reporter for the paper said avoiding the middle seat on her upcoming United flight to Chicago cost $70, so she took the middle seat instead. Kirby also said airfares have risen off "an artificial low from COVID," with four of the eight publicly traded US airlines expected to lose money this year.