Airlines to start charging for seat location?

[jlewisinsyr]

Laugh all you want, but general forum etiquette is you post your questions/posts in the appropriate forum. Maybe a nice moderator recommendation is in order to merge the threads to here.

 

[Inkmahm]

To answer your question directly, though...

Yes, you typically get more legroom in an exit row. As for other airlines falling suit, as I and others said already, this is nothing new and the only change Continental is making is that these preferred seats will now be available to elite status passengers (as they were before) OR to passengers without status who are willing to pay extra for the seat.

We pay for exit row seats on Airtran as they are much more comfortable for only $20 more. And the person in front of you can't recline into your space which is an added bonus in my book.

In January, we flew Midwest to Florida. The flight was operated by Frontier so we were actually in a Frontier plane with the stretch seating in the first 4 rows of the plane. The exit row couldn't be assigned until the day of the flight. DH and I arrived at the airport early for both flights, there and back, to get assigned to the exit row for free. It was a very comfy flight for no additional cost! I'm sure we had almost the same leg room as those in stretch with the added benefit of the passengers in front not being able to recline into our space (something stretch doesn't have.)

 

[uva185]

I've found the exit row on regional jets not to be that great. If anything, it's uncomfortable because they make the seat cushion length smaller so that there's more room to get out the window and there's no armrest on the window seat.

True, but it depends which regional jet. Some have almost no additional legroom and the shorter seat cushions but some have a TON of additional legroom and regular seats....like enough to get out from the window seat without disrupting your neighbor!

 

[JohnsonsRUs]

We are flying on Allegiant in a few weeks and there are 3 of us, one being DD who is 12 and I would not want her sitting without one of us there. You would think that they would at least be able to recognize that and put one of her parents by her, but no, they spread all 3 of us out when they gave us our free seat assignment and so we pretty much were forced to pay to get seats together. We probably could have just paid to move 1 of us to her row, but I did't think of that, oh well. I guess at least we will be all sitting together in 1 row, which will be more comfortable for all of us.

Now, we are going on Spirit in November and it tried to have us purchase seats right now, but I think I am going to wait until iwe get our seat assignments and see what happens. I can't be too upset, even if we have to pay to move our seats since we only are paying $49 each way for the tickets, but I am tired of the nickel and diming!

 

[Hugpug]

This nickel and diming has to stop. What the heck is wrong with these airline corporate jerks. If I lived closer or even take a month off at a time I tell them to stick it and drive myself reguardless what the gas prices are but they will end up killing themselfs because pretty soon NO ONE will be flying anywhere.

 

[5boyz]

Airtransat and Skyservice charge $15 per seat or $25 for Emergency Exit!!! They also charge for blankets and pillows..mind you you get to keep them!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

This nickel and diming has to stop. What the heck is wrong with these airline corporate jerks. If I lived closer or even take a month off at a time I tell them to stick it and drive myself reguardless what the gas prices are but they will end up killing themselfs because pretty soon NO ONE will be flying anywhere.

So you want companies to go bankrupt because they are unable to raise enough revenue to offset their costs. That will do wonders to competition.

 

[eliza61]

So you want companies to go bankrupt because they are unable to raise enough revenue to offset their costs. That will do wonders to competition.

Tough luck then. If you don't have a business model that covers your cost you deserve to go out of business.
I have no problem with non viable companies going out of business.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Tough luck then. If you don't have a business model that covers your cost you deserve to go out of business.
I have no problem with non viable companies going out of business.

Then do not complain when prices go up 10% - 20% based on how large the carrier's market share was.

 

[Hannathy]

Tough luck then. If you don't have a business model that covers your cost you deserve to go out of business.
I have no problem with non viable companies going out of business.

But they do have a business model to cover their costs, charge for everything ala carte, You just don't like it!!! big difference.

I like the different charges. This way everyone pays for what is important for themselves. I don't care where I sit, who I sit with (other than screaming babies) If I get a drink, etc. So if the airlines can meet the bottom dollar by doing this rather than raising base fares I say go for it!

 

[eliza61]

I've never have complained about that. What I dislike is this false advertisement. Call a spade a spade. This garbage about your ticket will cost 99 bucks but oh by the way we're going to charge you 59 dollars extra for a seat, then another 35 bucks to use the bathroom and by the way your using our gateway to enter the plan so that'll be another 19.99 but your ticket is still only 99 bucks.

I stand by the above. get rid of pissant, poorly run, nickel and dime airlines

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm confused. Why is it a bad thing for airlines to charge extra for more leg room? People are regularly complaining that the seats are too cramped. Well, now you've got an opportunity to pay to get more room. We all have the freedom to CHOOSE whether or not to pay the extra fee to get that extra room. Once you make your decision, just don't complain that you don't like what YOU CHOSE.

I'm all for a la carte charging if it means keeping the base fares low. I can then pick and choose just what things are important to me and budget for them.

The other option for airlines to raise base fares across the board. I bet nobody would be happy with that (ok, maybe elite type flyers would because many of us budget flyers wouldn't be able to fly any more so they'd have a lot more peace and quiet).

 

[clanmcculloch]

I've never have complained about that. What I dislike is this false advertisement. Call a spade a spade. This garbage about your ticket will cost 99 bucks but oh by the way we're going to charge you 59 dollars extra for a seat, then another 35 bucks to use the bathroom and by the way your using our gateway to enter the plan so that'll be another 19.99 but your ticket is still only 99 bucks.

I stand by the above. get rid of pissant, poorly run, nickel and dime airlines

These are not real charges that you're complaining about. You're making things up just for the sake of arguing.

Airport fees are charged BY THE AIRPORT, not the airline.

Airlines that charge to choose your seat do so an an OPTIONAL charge and clearly list this as optional. You don't have to pay to choose your seat. Of course if you don't, you shouldn't complain if you don't sit where you really want because of a decision YOU made to not pay for an optional service. Make your decision and stand behind it.

Would you prefer for the base fare to be higher to cover things like seating assignments? That's the alternative to optional fees. Everybody will then get charged this same amount but you won't have a say in whether or not you want the service but you do have to pay for it. It means more cost for all casual travellers. This is exactly what airlines will do; they don't go out of business, they'll raise fares. Fares really are VERY cheap.

What other REAL optional fees have you so ticked off?