Now you're going to have a middle seat for sure

An internal memo at British Airways has been leaked, and it portends a gloomy next step for the major carriers.

As of Oct. 7, the airline confirmed to WalletPop, everyone flying on its jets will have to pay extra if they want a seat assignment before they get to the airport. Up to now, that's something that only the cut-rate carriers (like Spirit) have been doing in America.

As every regular traveler knows, the only seats left by the day of departure are usually the least desirable ones: the middle seats. This means that unless you want to be packed into the middle seat for that seven-hour transatlantic flight, you have to pony up. Those who scrimp now will be squeezed in later.