Choice seats?

US Airways is introducing Choice Seats — seat assignments on the aisle or window in the first several rows of the Coach cabin which will be available for as little as $5 per flight. Passengers may select a Choice Seat during Web Check-in (from 24 hours and up to 90 minutes before departure.) Choice Seats will be available to our Dividend Miles Preferred members any time after booking at no charge. (That's straight from the airline's Web site.)

I don't understand what the appeal of that would be. For people who like to sit in the front and get out of the plane right away? You're only going to get out of the plane 5 minutes faster than the people in the back. And from my experience, the back is usually less crowded, giving a passenger the greater likelihood of being able to spread out. Ask Brad how many times the back of the plane has worked to our advantage.

And you can still book a window or aisle seat further back in the plane as soon as you make your reservation ... so it's not like everyone has to pay a premium to not be stuck in the middle.

US Airways, what are you doing? Customer service is great but if passengers are going to be nickeled and dimed to death at least lower fares.