There are few things points and miles travelers enjoy more than finally finding a reasonably priced business class award to Europe.

You search flexible dates. You compare transfer partners. You stare at an award calendar for longer than any well-adjusted adult probably should. Then, finally, the seats appear.

You transfer the points, book the ticket and prepare to celebrate.

And then the airline asks for more money so you can pick where you sit.

Air France and KLM have expanded their paid advance seat-selection policy on long-haul premium-cabin flights. The change is especially relevant to Flying Blue award travelers, couples who want to sit together and anyone who cares about choosing a window, aisle or preferred position before check-in opens.

What Changed?

Air France and KLM began charging some business class passengers for advance seat assignments in 2023. At the time, several North American markets were excluded.

The airlines have now widened the policy.

Official agency guidance from Delta says that, for travel beginning June 25, 2026, passengers booked in Business, Premium and Premium Comfort on qualifying routes beginning in Europe and traveling to the United States, Canada, Mexico or Tahiti may be charged to reserve a seat in advance when traveling on Light or Standard fares.

Recent reports also indicate that advance seat-selection fees are now appearing on long-haul award tickets across a much broader group of markets.

The practical takeaway is simple: do not assume that a Flying Blue business class award includes complimentary advance seat selection just because the ticket itself is in a premium cabin.

Who May Have to Pay?

You are most likely to see a charge when several of the following apply:

The exact price is not fixed across every flight. Air France says the rate can vary based on the destination, travel date and fare selected. Your actual booking or the “My Bookings” section should display the amount that applies to your itinerary.

That means there is not one universal fee that can be quoted for every traveler. The amount may differ by route, direction, aircraft and seat location.

Who Can Still Select Seats for Free?

Air France currently lists several groups that may receive complimentary advance seat selection, including:

• Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum members
• Eligible companions traveling on the same reservation
• Passengers traveling on qualifying Flex fares
• Passengers with reduced mobility
• Children traveling alone under the airline’s applicable service

Corporate agreements and other ticket-specific exceptions may also apply.

KLM similarly notes that certain fares and elite-status levels can unlock free or discounted seat selection earlier in the process.

Because exemptions can depend on the operating airline, fare type, direction of travel and loyalty status, the booking screen is the best place to confirm what your specific ticket includes.

Can You Wait Until Check-In?

In many cases, yes.

Air France says that travelers who do not purchase an advance seat can receive an automatically assigned seat when online check-in opens, normally 30 hours before departure. Depending on availability and the fare rules, travelers may then be able to change to another available standard seat without paying.

That may work perfectly well for a solo traveler who is not particular about seat location.

It becomes less comfortable when:

• You are traveling with a spouse, partner or friend.
• You strongly prefer a window or aisle.
• You want to avoid sitting near a galley or restroom.
• You are traveling on an aircraft where certain seats are clearly better.
• The business class cabin is expected to be full.

Waiting is free, but it also means accepting whatever selection remains.

What This Means for Award Travelers

This is where the change becomes particularly irritating.

Flying Blue can offer excellent business class award pricing, especially during Promo Rewards or when seats appear at the program’s lower pricing levels. However, an additional fee to select seats reduces the value of the redemption.

That does not automatically make the award a bad deal.

A great redemption can still be a great redemption, even with an annoying fee attached. But the seat charge belongs in your full trip math, right alongside:

• Taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges
• Positioning flights
• Transfer-bonus calculations
• Cancellation or change costs
• Hotel and ground transportation expenses

If you are booking for two people and both travelers want specific seats on multiple segments, a seemingly small fee can become a much larger addition to the trip.

Do Not Transfer Points Until You Check the Full Cost

This policy is another reason not to transfer flexible points too early.

Before moving points into Flying Blue:

1. Confirm that the exact award space is still available.
2. Review the taxes and surcharges.
3. Continue far enough through the booking process to inspect the seat map.
4. Check whether your loyalty status or fare type provides an exemption.
5. Decide whether you are comfortable waiting until check-in.
6. Compare the total cost against other programs and cash fares.

Flexible-point transfers are generally one-way. Once the points move into Flying Blue, you usually cannot send them back to the bank program because the seat-selection charge changed your opinion of the deal.

Should You Pay the Fee?

That depends on the trip.

Paying may make sense when:

• You are traveling as a couple and sitting together matters.
• You are flying overnight and have a strong window or aisle preference.
• You found a particularly desirable seat on the aircraft.
• You are traveling for a honeymoon, anniversary or major event.
• The cabin is already filling quickly.

Waiting may make sense when:

• You are traveling alone.
• Most seats in the cabin offer a similar experience.
• You do not care where you sit.
• The advance-selection price is unreasonable.
• You hold status that may make selection complimentary.

I would not pay automatically just because the booking screen offers the option. Look at the aircraft, cabin layout and remaining seats first.

There is no trophy for paying extra to select seat 7A when seat 8A provides nearly the same experience for free at check-in.

Keep Checking After You Book

Even if you decide not to pay immediately, revisit the reservation.

Airlines swap aircraft. Seat maps change. Status information does not always attach correctly. Policies and exemptions can also display differently depending on whether the ticket was booked directly, through a partner or through a travel agency.

Check the reservation again:

• Shortly after ticketing
• A few weeks before departure
• When the check-in window opens
• After any schedule or aircraft change

If you pay for a seat and the airline later changes the aircraft or cannot provide the selected seat, review the applicable refund process. KLM’s published conditions list several situations where a seat-selection refund may be available, including cancellations, aircraft changes and certain involuntary seat reassignments.

Getting to the Point(s)

Air France and KLM still offer strong business class products, and Flying Blue remains one of the more useful international award programs.

But premium-cabin travelers should no longer assume that choosing a seat in advance is automatically included.

The biggest lesson here is not simply “airlines added another fee.” That part is hardly shocking anymore.

The lesson is to calculate the entire cost before transferring points.

Check the miles. Check the taxes. Check the surcharges. Check the seat map. Then decide whether the redemption still works for you.

A business class award can be an excellent use of points while still including a fee that deserves a hard eye roll. Both things can be true at the same time.

Sources & Further Reading

• Delta Professional: Air France and KLM Standard Seat Selection
• KLM: Seat Selection Conditions
• KLM: Business Class Seats
• One Mile at a Time: Air France and KLM Expand Business Class Seat Fees

Airline fees, exemptions and booking displays can change. Confirm the terms shown on your specific itinerary before transferring points or purchasing a ticket.