CONSUMER

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Up, up and away! When booking domestic flights online, is it really necessary to select, and thus pay extra, for your seat? Also, how do auction houses work out commissions?

Kevin Milne CONSUMER

By choice

When you book domestic air travel online, you’re asked to select your seat and are then charged for the privilege. You’re not sure if you actually have to select a seat and pay for it. Can you skip that bit, not select a seat and fly cheaper? You most certainly can. And the airlines will allocate you a seat as they always have. But in order to make as much money out of you as possible, they are keen you take the option to select a seat and pay extra. Sometimes the wording makes it seem as if you have no option – particularly if more than one person is travelling and you’re concerned you won’t be seated together. The airlines can’t guarantee that you’ll be seated together if you don’t select a seat. But the reality is, even if you don’t pay the extra, they will do their best to seat together those who book together – particularly if one is a child. But don’t get sucked in. It’s not necessary to select a seat and you will save yourself some money if you don’t. You just move to the next section in the online booking process. IS IT COMPULSORY TO SELECT A SEAT WHEN BOOKING FLIGHTS?

Who has to pay the commission at an auction – the person whose goods are being sold or the person buying them? And what’s a buyer’s premium? Usually both end up paying a commission, but it depends on the auction, so read the Conditions of Sale before you participate. Auction houses charge the seller a commission on each sale they make. Often they will negotiate a lesser commission for very expensive individual items, or charge a smaller commission in auctions that are selling high-cost items, such as top-end art works or expensive vintage cars. However, auction houses may also impose a charge on buyers as well. This is often referred to as a buyer’s premium. In effect, it’s a buyer’s commission. Usually this doesn’t mean the auction house is clipping the ticket twice. It simply avoids putting all of the cost on the seller. After all, the buyer benefits from the transaction as much as the seller. But commissions must be taken into account when working out a reserve price or, if you’re buying, how much you’ll bid for an item.