Lufthansa charged me for seat I never booked, is this normal airline practice?

Seat fees are optional, so the airline must prove you actively selected or accepted the paid seat during booking, check-in, or a later change.

Start by requesting transaction details and system logs from Lufthansa showing the seat selection time, channel, and device.

If they cannot prove consent, formally dispute the charge in writing and request a refund.

If Lufthansa refuses or ignores you, escalate through your credit card issuer as an unauthorized charge, which often leads to a fast reversal.

You can also file a complaint with Xolvie to raise awareness and pursue a resolution.