Are You Ready for a Charge of $4 to $39 for the Right to Occupy an Aisle or Window Seat on American Airlines?

Now we've seen everything. In what seems like a parody of what you'd expect from Spirit Airline or other such types, one of the most respected of all U.S. carriers -- none other than American Airlines -- has just announced that starting now, it will charge $4 to $39 for the right to request an aisle or window seat in the front half of its economy class sections.

Note that American Airlines is already charging extra for the right to specify a seat in the first several rows of its economy section ("Express Seats"). But now, it will place far more seats (half of the economy class allotment) into a preferred category ("Preferred Seats"). Those will be automatically assigned to persons who are either frequent flyers on American or have paid full, non-discounted prices for their tickets. But if you're a cost-conscious type who has paid less, you'll get such seats only if they haven't been fully requested by your superior fellow passengers. To assure yourself of an aisle or window seat in the front half, regardless of what those other plutocrats do, you have to pay the extra charge listed above.

In announcing the new fee, it's been pointed out that other airlines already charge extra for exit-row seats or for seats enjoying extra legroom. And one airline -- U.S. Airways -- already charges extra for some aisle and window seats. The decision by American Airlines to do so will undoubtedly set off a bandwagon rush to do the same by all the others.

We used to joke when Ryanair or Spirit Airlines pulled off such stunts. It used to be funny. It no longer is.