American Airlines to charge $19-$29 extra for coach seats near front of coach cabin

The sample fees the airline provided range from $19 to $39 dollars on popular routes.  For example, passengers flying from San Francisco to Dallas could pay $29 to reserve a seat in the first few rows of coach, including the bulkhead, when they check-in at the airport.  The reserved seats will be sold only at the airline's self-service check-in machines.

The program, which American calls, "Express Seating", would also allow passengers who pay for reserved seats to board the aircraft in the first group. 

American said passengers would still be able to reserve other seats in the coach cabin, behind the front rows, at no charge.   The airlines top frequent fliers will also continue to have access to preferred seats the airline blocks off, at no charge.