American Airlines first separated the first few rows in the economy section to give its high-tiered frequent flyers an opportunity to sit close enough to first class to sniff the wine cork. Now others will have the opportunity to sit as far forward as the first three rows in coach ... for a fee.

It's not a new concept. Prime seating has often come with an added cost, but most of us are used to having to pay more for premium cabins; seats with some extra legroom or other special feature; but not for the same coach seats just because they're closer to the front of the plane. Alas, this is the new reality. Many airlines are already charging more for exit rows; the rows behind the bulkhead that divides the forward cabin from the back; and even aisle and window seats. Some airlines that don't charge for these seats make you wait until check-in time to select them. What American Airlines has done – charging more for the first three rows in coach – is not new; it's just another indication that soon, the middle seats will be the only "free" domestic economy seats left.

American calls these seats "Express Seats" and it hopes to attract more revenue by attracting those who would like to get off of the plane faster. The seats will still be made available at no additional cost to top-tier frequent flyers but for those who are not, the fees can range from US$19 to $39 depending on the length of the flight. According to USA Today, the program applies to travel within the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you want to get one of those seats, you can't do it any sooner than 24 hours before departure and you can only do it at the airport.

So now you have early boarding fees and an early exit fee. The good news is that if you pay the early exit fee, the early boarding fee is thrown in. Are you following closely? Here's where it gets even more confusing. If, just before departure, the only seat remaining to a stand-by passenger is one that carries a fee, will the airline offer the seat for a fee to be collected before boarding, or will it rush the passenger on at the last minute, sans fee, causing a possible discrepancy between those that paid and the one that didn't?

What about overhead space? You've seen those passengers who put their carry-on luggage in the first bins they see, only to walk further back to their actual seating location. You know very well why they do this. After the plane arrives, the passenger can simply get up, walk forward, grab his/her bag and get out. If you've ever had to wait for others to get out of your way so you can squeeze through the aisle to get your carry-on from the only available overhead bin – behind you – you might understand why this happens. Still, it's one of the many acts that fellow passengers frown upon. So, the next question is: how will the airline ensure that the bins above the extra-cost seats remain only for those passengers who paid for them? Will the early boarding privilege take care of this? Maybe the seated will be become bin guardians and, like a mother bear guarding her den, offer frightening stares and a few growls to keep offenders at bay.