Unwelcome airline seat reassignments happen to families who pay to sit together, and famously to political commentator Ann Coulter, who erupted in a Twitter tirade over being bumped this month from the aisle perch she paid for. But the ugly truth is that premium-seating fees guarantee nothing. First, read the fine print. Next realize that airlines didn't really change procedures at boarding gates to match the marketing. Does that mean they lied?
From the Wall Street Journal:
If 15F costs $32 extra and you buy it, you think you own 15F for that flight. Airlines say that legally, you don't. They can sell you one thing and deliver something else because the terms and conditions on seat purchases give them discretion. United and American use the same wording in their terms and conditions: “Seat assignments are not guaranteed.” Delta says it can reassign seats, paid or not, “at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft, for operational, safety or security reasons. The final decision resides with the ground staff and operating crew on the day of the flight.”
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