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Select an Extended Comfort seat and make your journey smoother from start to finish. Benefits include Priority boarding (Zone 2), extra legroom seating located towards the front of the aircraft, early access to overhead bin space and more.
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Exit Row seats offer additional legroom and board earlier therefore allowing for easier access to overhead bin space. For safety reasons you must meet the Exit Row seating restrictions.
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1 Seat space varies by aircraft type.
2 At available airports
3 For safety reasons you must meet the Exit Row seating restrictions .
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By Megan Cerullo
December 21, 2018 / 7:00 AM EST / MoneyWatch
Airplane seat assignments have gone the way of free checked luggage and in-flight meals, as major airlines shift from selling all-inclusive tickets to an a-la-carte business model, offering seat selection at an added cost to consumers. While airlines reap the benefits, customers say the move creates confusion and unfairly penalizes families with children who want to travel together.
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines -- known as the big three -- now offer discounted fares in Basic Economy class that don't come with seat assignments to compete with low-cost carriers including Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier airlines, forcing travelers to pay up for seat reservations.
"Airline executives will be very honest. They aren't offering Basic Economy because they want people to buy Basic Economy. They are offering it because they want you to pay up the higher fare. That's the whole purpose of the construct," said Samuel Engel, an airline consultant who leads ICF's aviation group.
The big three also charge passengers a fee on top of airfare to reserve "preferred" seats, characterized as such for their cabin location. Seats toward the front of the plane, as well as window and aisle seats qualify, while unpopular middle seats and seats located in the plane's rear don't usually incur fees.
"Seats are real estate, and real estate on an airplane is a very precious commodity," said aviation consultant and IdeaWorks President Jay Sorensen. "Airlines have applied a heat map to the seat selection process based on which seats are most popular, and they view it as an opportunity to charge extra," he said.
Try booking a seat on Delta flight DL898 from New York's Laguardia to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Seat 16D -- on the aisle near the front of the main cabin -- will cost you $59.99 more than 16B, located in the middle of the row. Same goes for 16F -- a window seat -- while window and aisle seats toward the back of the plane don't come with added costs.
Sorensen touted the upsides of the new model. "It allows a consumer to choose a bare-bones product or to spend more money for more comfort and convenience," he said. "At one point a decade ago, you could post a price and that price included everything a consumer could reasonably expect. But what has happened since is as you go through the booking path, you are picking and choosing things. It generates more revenue."
United President Scott Kirby likened paying more for seats toward the front of a plane to shelling out for prime seating at concerts and sporting events.
But customers are frustrated that they have to now pay more for marginal gains -- like aisle and window seats -- versus extra leg room.
"@Delta Wow. Had no idea that 'preferred' seat was code for regular seat. My bad. Please cancel and refund my other purchase," Chris Hamm tweeted, after realizing he had upgraded to what he considered a standard seat on a flight from Atlanta to San Jose, Costa Rica.
"Asked #AmericanAirline what's so special about 'premium seats' that they want me to pay $99 extra on check-in. Their reply? 'Thank-you for your feedback'," a user named SallyD tweeted.
She complained that seat 26D -- located closer to the front of the aircraft -- cost $99 more than seat 33D, to which she was assigned.
Analysts say consumer frustration is all a part of the transition.
"Anytime you change how something is sold or how it's defined there's going to be a rough period where consumers are impacted by the change," IdeaWorks' Sorensen said. "In terms of seating, we are in the middle of that right now."
Airlines are also finding money by forcing big broods to pay extra to secure side-by-side seats -- and are being accused of profiting from splitting up kids and their parents.
Consumer advocate Charles Leocha equated the airlines' move to President Donald Trump's policy of separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border in a blog post titled, "Family separation: It is an airline problem, too."
"This is a cruel form of family separation and it is done on a daily basis on airlines with visions of profits dancing in front of the airline-executives' eyes," he wrote. He argued that a family of four could rack up to $800 in extra fees just to sit side-by-side on a domestic flight.
Families wanting to sit together face an additional hurdle under the new pricing model: Customers who have paid up for preferred seats are less inclined to move to accommodate separated families.
"People who would normally be able to move around now feel very entitled to the specific seats they chose for their own comfort because they paid extra money for that specific seat," Leocha said.
Congress in 2016 passed a law requiring that airlines seat families with their children under age 14 at no additional cost to travelers. But the Department of Transportation has failed to enforce it.
Ancillary revenue -- anything that's not included in the core ticket price -- is expected to reach $92.9 billion globally in 2018, up from $82.2 billion in 2017, according to data from IdeaWorks.
Last year, baggage fees made up the bulk of that revenue, with reserved-seating fees coming in second.
"[Reserved-seating fees] are attractive to airlines because technology powers it. With food, for example, [airlines] have to purchase food. With baggage service, you have to provide all sorts of support, which involves labor," Sorensen said. "But the costs associated with seat assignment services are relatively low."
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
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Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the comp...
Among the long, long list of reasons basic economy hurts travelers, the inability to pick your own seat is at the top. Airlines use the prospect of getting stuck in a middle seat between two strangers to convince flyers to pay up for a more-inclusive fare.
But in reality, most of the major airlines allow travelers to pay a fee to pick their own seat. And American Airlines' policy just got a lot better.
American now allows travelers buying a basic economy fare to pay for a seat assignment at any time from check-out to check-in . Previously, you could only pay for a seat within seven days of departure. J.T. Genter first reported the change.
Small change to @americanair Basic Economy policies: BE passengers can now purchase a seat anytime after purchase rather than having to wait until 7 days to departure. pic.twitter.com/b52EQ0lX6H — JT Genter (@JTGenter) March 28, 2020
Basic economy is still a drag. But this is a great change that gives flyers more time to snag the seat they want rather than waiting until the cabin fills up – or getting assigned a seat at the gate.
This puts American in line with United, which also allows basic economy fares to purchase a seat assignment right away. Delta only allows you to pay for a seat within seven days of departure – but also gives flyers a window to pick a seat for free.
If getting a seat next to your travel companion is your top priority, it likely makes more sense to buy a basic economy fare and pay extra for seat selection than paying the $70 additional airlines charge for a round-trip main cabin fare.
Thrifty Tip: Want an even better seat without paying for it? Read up on a strategy to get a Main Cabin Extra seat for free even when flying AA basic economy.
This is a small but important change for basic economy fares on American. You can now pay for a seat assignment from check-out until check-in. And with reasonable fees to pick a seat, that's good news.
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Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for T...
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Your seat selection strategy matters when you're flying in the economy cabin.
MesquitaFMS/Getty Images
You can argue window or aisle all day long, but the real key to surviving a flight in economy is picking the best seat for you. And unfortunately, that's sometimes easier said than done. In some cases, you might have to pay extra for a seat selection. In others, you might find only middle seats are left. To make matters more complicated, some airlines don't assign seats at all. So, if you're booking an economy ticket and you want to score the best seat possible, here are the tips you need to know.
These days, most airlines charge extra for seat selection . If you don't pay for a seat, one will likely be assigned to you during the check-in process. But there are a few outliers that don't charge for seat selection, including Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian. So, if picking a seat for free is important to you, choose one of these carriers.
Stephen Swintek/Getty Images
The earlier you book a flight, the more likely the plane will be empty, giving you a vast selection of seats. Of course, you might have to pay for those seats, but at least the choice will be there. If you can't book early, look into booking off-peak flights (meaning off-peak times of the year or even off-peak days of the week, like a Tuesday or Wednesday). Those will likely have more seats open than peak options.
"Different planes have different layouts and seat configurations , so it's important to research the type of plane you'll be on to determine the best seat options," App in the Air CEO Greg Kott tells Travel + Leisure . Most airlines have seating charts online, or you can try a third-party site like AeroLopa to see the layout and view which rows are bulkhead or near the bathrooms. "You may want to avoid sitting too close to the bathrooms to avoid the noise that comes with lines and potential odors," Kott adds.
urbazon/Getty Images
If your ideal seat isn't available at the time of booking, keep checking back regularly. People cancel flights all the time, which means a better seat can open up at any moment. If you don't want to continually check the seating charts, consider paying for a third-party service like ExpertFlyer , which can send you notifications about seat availability.
If your seat is going to be assigned at check-in, be sure to check in as early as possible. Usually, once you've been auto-assigned a seat, you can then change it to any available one in the cabin. If you check in right when the window opens, there may be some other options elsewhere in the cabin.
This may be easier said than done, but if you achieve airline frequent flier status , you'll likely be able to pick seats for free. The higher tiers of elite status can even get you free upgrades or economy seats with extra leg room, pending availability. Be sure to research your airline's specific policies, though, since each carrier has its own perks for status.
Sometimes, the only option to ensure you'll get the absolute best seat in economy is to pay extra for it. For long-haul red-eye flights , it might be worth it to avoid a cramped middle seat near the lavatories.
"If you weren't able to secure your desired seat at the time of booking, try asking for a seat change at check-in," says Kott. "There may be better seats available that weren't open when you booked your flight." If you don't have luck at check-in, you have one more shot — ask your gate agent if there are any other seats available (say, a window or aisle seat if you're stuck in the middle). You never know if someone changed their flight at the last minute or missed a connection.
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The selection of Gov. Tim Walz as a Democratic vice presidential candidate could trigger a cascade of political leadership changes in Minnesota — if the newly minted ticket wins.
But it’s important to note at the outset that the timing of any Walz departure from the Minnesota governor’s office would dictate everything.
Here are the ways the dominoes could fall:
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It wouldn’t be in his interest to give up the governor’s office until after the election results are known, because he can remain governor if he and Vice President Kamala Harris lose the presidential election in November.
Walz has two-plus years remaining on his second term. He hasn’t even said what would come after 2026, leaving the door open to another run for governor or something else. Minnesota doesn’t have term limits.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a fellow Democrat, would become Minnesota’s next governor under succession steps laid out in the Minnesota Constitution . Flanagan would be the first female governor in Minnesota and the first Native American woman to serve as governor in the country. She is a member of the White Earth Nation.
She would be the eighth lieutenant governor in Minnesota to climb the ladder. It last happened in 1976 when then-Gov. Wendell Anderson resigned his office to take the U.S. Senate seat opened by Walter Mondale’s impending ascension to the vice presidency. Rudy Perpich moved up.
In 1943, Lt. Gov. Edward Thye became governor upon the resignation of Gov. Harold Stassen.
Two other resignations in the 1800s resulted in a political promotion as well.
Three times in Minnesota’s history, a governor’s death in office led to the lieutenant governor moving up, according to records kept by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library .
Under the line of succession, the Minnesota Senate president moves up.
This is where things get trickier and murkier.
Currently, that’s four-term DFL Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis. But that doesn’t mean he’ll get the job.
It depends on a lot of factors, including which party controls the Senate when Walz submits his resignation.
The 67-member chamber is currently tied 33-33. Sen. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven, resigned her seat to run for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd District. A special election in November will determine who wins the seat — and the Senate majority heading into the 2025 session.
If Democrats win the seat there could be stability in the Senate president’s chair. The party could also opt to elect a new president if Champion decided he didn’t want the lieutenant governor’s post; after all, he could always try to reclaim the Senate president post later given that a new one of those would be chosen next.
Last month, Champion told reporters that he’s not yet considering what a climb up the political ranks might mean for him.
If Republicans win, upon the election certification of the new senator — as soon as mid-November — they could move to have that person sworn in to give the GOP a 34-33 edge.
When the Legislature reconvenes in mid-January, the party could put one of their own in the Senate president’s seat.
Or GOP members could work a political angle, perhaps installing a swing-seat Democrat as president with the awareness that person would be tugged up the chain. That would open that elevated senator’s seat for another special election.
It would be largely up to him. He could resign soon after the election or wait a bit.
Walz would not be sworn in as vice president until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, so conceivably he could keep the Minnesota post right up until then.
Given that the Legislature comes back on Jan. 14 for the next session, the musical chairs in the Senate could be settled soon after that and give Walz a clear picture of what would be in the rearview mirror.
The Senate would be down a member until that resulting special election is held. There is a possibility it could be done prior to the 2025 session, but also the possibility it wouldn’t occur until February or March.
That might mean a 33-33 party split for the opening weeks of a budget-year session. The state House majority, currently held by Democrats, is also at stake this November.
It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen problems generated by the ascendancy of a senator to the lieutenant governor post in Minnesota. In 2017, then Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate seat left open by Al Franken’s resignation.
Then-Senate President Michelle Fischbach, a Republican who now represents a vast swath of western Minnesota in Congress, moved up to the role of lieutenant governor. But Fischbach tried to maintain that she could serve as both Lieutenant Governor and Senate President.
Democrats sued Fischbach twice. In the first lawsuit, a Ramsey County district judge ruled that the Senate had the duty to determine eligibility of its members and the case was dismissed . Democrats sued Fischbach again a few months later, but the case was dropped when the legislative session ended and Fischbach resigned from the Senate to accept an invitation to be Tim Pawlenty’s running mate in the governor’s race. They ultimately lost.
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Booking airfare is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Should you choose basic economy or main cabin ? Do you want the “bundle” or would you rather pay “a la carte”? And how much are you willing to pay for a seat?
Seat selection is a particularly thorny issue for those traveling with kids. Now that airlines charge to select “preferred” seats, such as those near the front or by the aisle or window, families can pay hundreds of dollars simply for the privilege to sit together on a round-trip flight.
United recently announced a new family seating policy that allows kids 12 years old and under to sit next to an accompanying adult on basic economy fares at no extra cost. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier also guarantee complimentary family seating.
Is paying extra for seats an inevitability for families? Or can these pesky fees be minimized or circumvented altogether? And why do they even exist in the first place?
Seat selection fees have become more common for a reason — they drive a lot of revenue for airlines. Low-cost airlines Spirit and Frontier earned roughly half of their revenue from “ancillary fees” in 2020, according to a report by IdeaWorksCompany, an industry analytics firm.
Ancillary fees also tend to mislead consumers. In one 2020 study in the journal Marketing Science, participants who saw ancillary fees “dripped” throughout the checkout process ended up paying more overall than those who saw the total costs upfront. So a $20 fee to select a seat might not seem like much, but it can add up quickly, and can transform an apparently cheap airfare into a pricey one.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a notice to improve transparency on some ancillary airline fees, such as those for carry-on bags. But so far seat selection fees are getting a pass, which means they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.
Are airlines required to seat families together? No. That said, the DOT notice specifically calls for more transparency for parents who are trying to select a seat for their young children.
Until the rules change, however, parents are stuck with a tough choice: Cough up the cash to ensure the family sits together or skip seat selection and risk getting separated. For example, Spirit says gate agents and flight attendants will try to sit parents with children under the age of 14, but it cannot guarantee it.
To select a seat without overpaying, try to:
Choose seats in the back half of the plane. These usually carry fewer or no fees to select, and are the last to be selected by other passengers.
Pick an airline with lower seat selection fees (see below).
Avoid basic economy fares. These often carry restrictions on seat selection, and make family travel especially difficult.
Remember that children under two years old can fly for free and do not require a seat (though some parents prefer to buy a seat anyway).
Seat selection is always optional, whether flying solo or with a family of 10. It might seem nerve-wracking to head to the airport without confirmed seat assignments, but many families do it as a way to save money.
While airlines want to make it seem like families have to select seats in order to sit together, it’s rarely this black and white. Most gate agents will work with families — even those without seat assignments — to get everyone seated together, when possible. It might mean bumping the family further back in the plane, but young children will not be left unattended with strangers (for everyone’s sake).
In other words, you can skip seat selection altogether and (usually) remain seated with your companions.
Skipping seat selection doesn’t mean you or your family won’t get a seat. It just means you’ll have to wait until later in the process to get one assigned.
Skipping this step might not be as easy as it sounds. Many airlines now include seat selection as part of the checkout process and make it seem like selecting — and paying for — a seat is a required step.
If you don’t want to pay these fees, find a way to skip this step, and don’t get scared by the pop-ups and warnings the airlines use to make it seem mandatory.
Discount airlines like Spirit and Frontier may have pioneered the a la carte airfare model, but traditional airlines have jumped on board in order to compete. Not all airlines charge the same amount — or charge for seat selection at all.
NerdWallet performed an analysis of seat selection fees by comparing several routes across the major U.S. airlines. This revealed that some are charging far more for seat selection than others.
Southwest Airlines is not included here, because it’s an outlier: It doesn’t charge for — or allow — seat selection at all.
So, which airlines don't charge for seat selection? Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines are the only airlines that allow passengers to select a seat for free, though it may be near the back of the plane.
American, Delta, Frontier and Spirit all charged more than $10 each way for seat selection when applicable, even for lousy seats. Passengers should skip these airlines (or the seat selection process altogether) if they want to avoid such high fees.
Another airline invention from the past decade: Charging extra for “main cabin preferred” (or similar) seats that offer little more than a few inches of extra legroom. These seats often look similar to regular economy seats in the seat selection screen, but can carry hefty fees.
For example, an exit row seat on a nonstop Delta flight from Atlanta to Seattle cost $130 each way, or $260 more total — on a $358 flight. This 73% markup might make sense for particularly long-legged passengers, but for most travelers, these “upgrades” aren’t worth it.
To make it even more confusing, many airlines now have “ premium economy ” or “main cabin comfort” seats that do offer benefits like free drinks and priority boarding. The benefit of these seats varies considerably by airline. Some offer wider, more comfortable seats, while others offer standard seats, but throw in a free alcoholic drink and snack plate.
For children with short legs and little need for a cocktail, the markup on these upgraded seats is usually wasted.
Airlines want to charge you to select a seat because it costs them nothing. This incentive has led many airlines to push harder and harder, making “seat selection fees” seem like an unavoidable add-on charge for most fares.
For families, this decision is particularly fraught. Who wants to get separated from their preschooler on a six-hour flight? Yet it’s rarely so straightforward. Many families skip seat selection fees and end up sitting together, no problem.
For some people, the peace of mind that comes with knowing where the whole family will be seated is well worth the fee. For others, avoiding the fee and relying on the gate agents (and fellow passengers) to shuffle around works just fine.
It really comes down to risk tolerance.
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The Ministry of Defence has clarified that it has no objection to Ukraine using British weapons inside Russia as part of its counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will be on to speak about this year's A Level results day.
Thursday 15 August 2024 07:24, UK
One of the new government's more controversial pledges is a plan to impose VAT on private school fees.
There have been claims from some educational institutions going out of business that the new rates coming in for the next academic year are forcing them to close.
Speaking to Sky News, however, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson points out that a number of those schools closing their doors and blaming the government were already in trouble.
She says: "I think what we've seen with some of the examples that are being discussed are schools that were already experiencing big budget shortfalls, weren't attracting the same numbers of students that they might like to attract.
"And that's what's driving what we see here."
Ms Phillipson says she wants private schools to be an option for parents - but points out 93% of pupils in the UK are state educated.
She says political decisions need to be made to fund the sector - which includes raising taxes on private education.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is speaking to Sky News this morning, as A Level results are set to be collected this morning.
The MP, who represents a seat in Sunderland, says she wants to break down the barriers for people to apply for tertiary education.
She says that people from London and the South East are far more likely to apply for university.
"I'm absolutely determined to turn that around, because I don't believe where you're from should determine what you can go on to achieve, and it certainly shouldn't limit your choices and options," she says.
Ms Phillipson says the current government doesn't want to change the recently implemented visa restrictions on foreign students.
But she does point out that foreign students and their higher fees help subsidise domestic students.
She says there are challenges to university funding, with fees for UK students having barely risen in the past 12 years.
But it would be "really unpalatable" to be considering linking fees to inflation - or taking similar steps - as students are already facing "big challenges around the cost of living".
We've just had the latest Gross Domestic Product figures come through.
The stats show the UK grew by 0.6% in Q2 this year.
In June alone, there was no economic growth.
These numbers are in line with expectations.
ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: "The UK economy has now grown strongly for two quarters, following the weakness we saw in the second half of last year.
"Growth across the three months was led by the service sector, where scientific research, the IT industry and legal services all did well.
"In June growth was flat with services falling, due to a weak month for health, retailing and wholesaling, offset by widespread growth in manufacturing."
Away from Westminster, one of the big news events at the moment is Ukraine's counterattack into Russian territory.
There had been questions about whether the weapons the UK had supplied to Kyiv would be able to be used on Russian soil.
Last night, the Ministry of Defence indicated they were happy with this scenario.
A spokesperson said: "There has been no change in UK government policy, under article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia's illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia.
"We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law."
You can read more about the conflict in our live blog below:
By Faye Brown , political reporter
Hundreds of homes built for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are being sold off by the council at a projected loss of more than £300m, in a situation branded "nothing short of a scandal".
The government is facing pressure to intervene to stop the sale of 755 properties on the Perry Barr Estate to a private bidder, as the city battles an acute housing and funding crisis.
The local authority, the largest in Europe, declared itself effectively bankrupt last year, largely due to a financial black hole caused by an equal-pay bill and a botched implementation of an IT system.
At the same time, there are more than 23,000 households on the waiting list for council accommodation and an average of 447 applications received each week.
The current Perry Barr Estate was designed to accommodate athletes during the Commonwealth Games of 2022 and was heralded as a legacy regeneration project of the competition.
The development was stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the athletes housed in student accommodation instead.
Read the full story here:
By Alexandra Rogers , political reporter
A funding injection of £13.5m will be given to businesses and workers affected by job losses at Tata Steel, the government will announce.
Up to 2,800 jobs at Tata Steel are expected to be axed at the country's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot as the company moves over to a greener form of steel production which requires fewer workers.
Jo Stevens, the Welsh secretary, will make the funding announcement at her second meeting as chair of the Tata Steel/Port Talbot transition board on Wednesday.
The package is designed to support businesses that rely on Tata Steel as their main customer, while the money will also be used to help workers who have been made redundant by giving them access to training and qualifications in sectors where there are job vacancies.
As part of the deal, Ms Stevens, the MP for Cardiff East, will also announce that more than 50 businesses have signed a pledge to support any workers forced to leave their jobs in the steelworks.
Negotiations between the government and Tata Steel regarding the future of the Port Talbot plant - where the workforce currently accounts for 12% of the coastal town's entire population - will continue separately.
Read the full story below:
Welcome back to the Politics Hub.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will be talking to Sky News just after 7am, as she reacts to A Level results day.
Elsewhere, we're expecting new data on the economy today, showing off whether the UK grew in Q2 this year.
Things may be quiet in Westminster as it's recess, but there is still plenty of politics around.
We're bringing the Politics Hub to a close for the night.
It was a day dominated by Liz Truss's reaction to being trolled by pranksters last night, as a banner featuring a lettuce and stating "I crashed the economy" was unfurled behind her at an event.
Those who romained with us into the evening were treated to news that should go down well with anyone reading this from a carriage, as train drivers' union Aslef announced a pay deal with the government that could bring strikes to an end.
There were a few other gems in the Politics Hub today, including minister Jess Phillips expressing regret over a controversial tweet she sent during the recent riots.
And those stories are just the tip of the iceberg - there's plenty more to catch up on by scrolling back through the Politics Hub, and there's a podcast about today's inflation news above.
We'll be back tomorrow morning, when Sky News will bring you live coverage of this year's A-level results and an update to GDP figures.
Have a great evening.
By Jennifer Scott , political reporter
The government's child poverty taskforce has got to work as ministers begin putting together a strategy to lift families out of destitution.
But despite pressure within Labour and from other parties, it won't be scrapping the controversial two-child benefit cap.
What is the policy?
The two-child benefit cap was announced by the Conservatives in 2015, forming part of their austerity measures.
It means while parents can claim child tax credit or Universal Credit payments for their first and second child, they couldn't make claims for any further children they had.
These are separate payments to child benefit, which has no limit on how many children can be claimed for.
The argument from the Tories limiting the tax credit to two children made the system fairer for taxpayers, ensuring households on benefits "face the same financial choices about having children as those supporting themselves solely through work".
But opposition MPs and campaigners said the measure would drag more children into poverty and hit hard up families.
What is Labour's stance on it?
Labour were strong critics of the policy while in opposition and many expected they would scrap it if they won power.
But last year, Sir Keir Starmer ruled it out due to the public finances.
The Resolution Foundation has said abolishing the two-child limit would cost the government somewhere between £2.5bn and £3.6bn, but the Save the Children charity estimated the move would take half a million children out of relative poverty.
Seven Labour MPs paid the price for trying to force the government to scrap the policy - they were suspended from the parliamentary party for voting against the King's Speech.
Ministers have hinted they don't particularly like the policy - but it's not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
The government's child poverty taskforce has met for the first time.
Chaired by the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, it aims to put together measures to tackle a "scar on our society".
The taskforce was viewed as a compromise measure of sorts to satiate Labour MPs keen for the divisive to scrap the controversial two-child benefit cap, a Tory policy which the government is keeping in place.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suggested scrapping it isn't affordable for at least the time being.
Speaking after today's meeting, Ms Kendall said the taskforce had a "comprehensive strategy to drive down poverty", with latest figures showing four million children now growing up in a low-income family.
Ms Kendall was joined today by colleagues including the deputy prime minister and education secretary, who co-chairs the taskforce.
What will the taskforce do?
According to the government, its priorities are:
The taskforce will hear directly from affected families and children, leading campaigners and charities, while relevant ministers will work with local leaders across the country.
A dedicated child poverty unit is being set up in the Cabinet Office to assist with delivering the strategy, which the government said would be finalised and published by next spring.
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Some airlines charge seat selection fees. Don't fall for it. These fees can be avoided on certain airlines, especially if you don't mind the middle seat.
How do they avoid paying more for adjacent seats? And are there any new ways of avoiding seat selection fees? Don't do it: No, you shouldn't recline your seat on planes. Here's why.
How to avoid the "seat selection" fee For most consumers, it's no secret that an airline's listed seat price won't include things like checked bags, onboard food, or wifi access. These ...
American Airlines seat selection is relatively straightforward. Whether and how much you'll pay to choose a seat will depend on your fare and seat type.
United Airlines seat selection isn't the simplest process out there. Here's all you need to know about United seat assignment and United selection fees.
When can you choose (and pay for) your seats? When you first begin to search or book a flight, the airline may allow you to view the seat chart to get a sense of what seats are available. However, you typically cannot view the price for selecting your seat until after you have chosen your fare class and input your personal details.
Each airline handles seating assignments differently. This guide will tell you exactly how to get your family's seats together on a flight.
You pay more for another seat on the same flight (but not if you change to a lower priced or free seat) You cancel your flight within 24 hours and booked at least 2 days before departure. You cancel, rebook and buy seats on your new flight. We cancel your flight and we're unable to get you a comparable seat on another flight rebooked by us*.
4. Don't pay for a seat assignment if you aren't picky about your seat. A Spirit ticket does not include an advance seat assignment. A seat is assigned last minute at online check-in or at the ...
Airplane seat selection fees are super common. Here's why and how to avoid them, even if it's not easy.
In fact, most regular airlines now charge for seat selection anyways. It's often around $10-$30 per seat per flight segment, so if you cave in and pay for that, it can add up quickly. You shouldn't do it. No matter which airline you're flying on, don't ever pay to select a seat. By the way, you shouldn't pay baggage fees either, you ...
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You can view, select or change your seat in our seat maps when booking, in My Trips and during check-in.
Free seat selection for you and everyone on your booking from seven days before the time of departure on British Airways flights, excluding group rate bookings and exit row seats. You must be travelling on the booking for the benefit to apply. Exit row seats can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.
Want that window seat upfront in economy class? You'll have to pay. The nation's biggest airlines have joined low-cost carriers in charging a fee for seat selection.
Seat selection. Ensure you get the seat you want with advanced seat selection. Seats can be selected when you book your flight, or any time up to 24 hours before your flight using Manage Trips . Fees may apply for seat selection based on the fare purchased and the location of the seat on the aircraft. Guests purchasing our Economy fares such as ...
When you'll board. Basic Economy passengers board last, typically in Group 9. Overhead bin space is usually full by then, so plan to check your carry-on bag and bring only 1 personal item on board. Customers who need special assistance and families with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate.
Airplane seat assignments have gone the way of free checked luggage and in-flight meals, as major airlines shift from selling all-inclusive tickets to an a-la-carte business model, offering seat ...
Baggage: Get a carry-on bag and personal item for free; pay $30 each way for a checked bag (or $60 each way to Europe). Seat Selection: Seats are typically automatically assigned at check-in or at the gate, but keep reading to see how you can pick your seat! Boarding: Boards last in Delta's boarding order.
This puts American in line with United, which also allows basic economy fares to purchase a seat assignment right away. Delta only allows you to pay for a seat within seven days of departure - but also gives flyers a window to pick a seat for free. And in American's case, these seat assignment fees are pretty reasonable, starting at $10 or ...
Delta Air Lines seat selection can be a bit daunting. Delta seat assignments, Delta seat selection fees and other factors all play into the booking process.
In some cases, you might have to pay extra for a seat selection. In others, you might find only middle seats are left. To make matters more complicated, some airlines don't assign seats at all.
Wondering if and how to choose airline seats for your next flight? We've got some tips for deciding whether to shell out extra cash for the seat you want.
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To get seats together on the plane, you'll probably need to pay up. Airlines charge extra fees for seat selection, but you can cut costs by purchasing wisely.
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