UPDATE 2: It seems other low cost airlines have started doing this too. Ryanair, Jet2, bmibaby and air berlin have all been reported to be taking part in the charge for a seat scam.

UPDATE 3: The problem is not in charging for a seat. Premium seats being sold for a premium, is fair business in my eyes. The problem is the lack of transparency. Don’t select a seat as default and make it difficult to un-select that option.

Low cost airliners are pretty well known for advertising a ridiculously low price then hitting you with the extra charges to ramp the price up.

Today I booked two tickets with FlyBe. While going through the checkout procedure I select my seats and choose the emergency door row so we’ve got some extra leg room.

I go to pay, hit submit, and in my horror realise I’m being charged a £30 seat charge. That’s a charge for sitting, and trust me, there is no standing option – I looked.

Luckily my password was incorrect and it spat back my order giving me the chance to go change the seats from “emergency” which cost £15 to standard.

Back to checkout … and I see a £12 seat charge.

At this point I’m a bit cofused.

Not only am I paying a fee to fly, a fee in taxes, a transaction fee and a fee to have luggage but also a fee to sit during the flight.

So I go back and de-select my seat options and continue. It turns out preselecting a seat guarantees you a place and you are charged for the service. Fair enough, it’s just not made clear.

So dodging this £30 bullet I continue and pay the fees to get us where we’re going.

With a £3 credit card fee on top. Another fee, this time a fee to pay the fees. ffs.

But Uganda is pretty safe and stable and full of great friendly people. What I didn’t realise was I have nothing on Shane Smith and Uganda has nothing on Liberia.

Civil war, naked war lords and cannablism.

This, is the Vice Guide to Liberia.