BA to charge for choice of seats.

BRITISH Airways passengers will have to pay to choose their seats if they want to reserve them when they book, the airline said yesterday.

The new charges will affect people who want to ensure they sit together on a flight and anyone with a preference for window, aisle or emergency exit seats.

Currently, BA allows passengers to reserve seats free of charge in the 24 hours prior to departure, but from October 7 those willing to pay will be able to secure their preferred spot in the cabin when they make a booking.

BA said the move would "give customers more control over their seating options".

For an economy class trip within Europe, passengers will pay an extra pounds 10 per person to choose a seat.

On long-haul economy or short flights in business class the charge will be pounds 20, and pounds 60 in business class on long-haul voyages.

A seat in an emergency exit row will cost pounds 50 and can be booked between 10 and four days before take-off.

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "Unfortunately, budget airlines charging people for a service that used to be included in the headline price has become a familiar theme for travellers, but how disappointing to see British Airways jumping on the bandwagon.

"We know from our members that people really don't like these extra charges - they'd much rather see a headline price that includes everything."