For years, air travelers accepted one truism of flying: you paid your money and you took your chances on seating (i.e., a window near the front doesn't cost any more than a middle seat near the back). Now the better seats are often going for a premium. US Airways charges $5 to $30 each way to get a seat toward the front of the cabin or with extra legroom. A similar arrangement aboard United will cost anywhere from $9 to $109 depending on the route. (And you've still got to endure the smell of fresh-baked cookies coming from first class.)