United Airlines plans to start charging passengers to reserve select seats near the front of the plane, a practice already in place at rivals American and Delta.
There's nothing special about the so-called "preferred" seats, no extra legroom or other perks as are offered to passengers buying premium seats in airlines' coach cabins, such as United's Economy Plus and American's Main Cabin Extra.
They are just regular seats near the front of the main cabin, viewed as preferred because you don't have to traipse as far down the aisle to your seat and are among the first off the plane.