After backlash, Frontier Airlines has reversed that now-infamous fee to keep middle seats open during flights

As it sounded — when Frontier Airlines announced that passengers would be charged an extra fee to keep middle seats open during the COVID-19 outbreak… it was like social distancing for charge at its finest. The airline started out their week by announcing that the $39 fee to keep said seat open would take flight almost immediately, but as you could’ve guessed it was widely met with criticism online.

According to CNN, scrapping the fee came after people felt that the airline had secretly tried to profit from the otherwise widely circulated social distancing guidelines set in place by the government. The fee would have only applied to ticket-holders who otherwise needed social distancing efforts applied with the middle-seat open.

Meanwhile opposing airlines like Delta and American Airlines aren’t actually charging for the seat to be empty at all.