I purchased a r/t ticket to Sarasota for next week. The airline uses AirBus 320's which have 6 seats per row, except for the first few rows in the front which only have 2 larger seats on each side with more legroom and spacing.
A person can pick and pay for any reg seat when buying a ticket. The reg seats run from $10 to $26. (depending mostly on the distance from the front)
I usually pick a window seat for $12 so that I don't have to get up and into the aisle every 15 minutes for a drinker.
If you don't buy a seat...the airline puts you wherever they want at no fee.
Anyway...the airline has found a new source of cash. They auction off the bigger seats in the first few rows. I get emails every day as to upgrading my seat by placing a bid.
The bidding started at $34 and it's now up to $181/seat with three day left before closing.
Who would pay $181 (or more) for a larger seat??
And that price is on top of the ticket price.