Continental to start charging extra for certain seats?

[eliza61]

Is this old? I thought I heard on the news this morning that Continental is charging a $59 fee if you get a seat in the exit row. Supposedly because you are getting extra leg room.

What happens if thats all that is available do you still pay that extra fee?

Did any one else here this? I heard it on abc new early this morning (5:00 am) so maybe I was still half asleep.

 

[luvmy3]

I thought airlines already did this. I recently booked a trip for dh and I didnt get the seat with more leg room because it was more. (We was willing to pay for it but I didn't know).

 

[legalsea]

Is this old? I thought I heard on the news this morning that Continental is charging a $59 fee if you get a seat in the exit row. Supposedly because you are getting extra leg room.

What happens if thats all that is available do you still pay that extra fee?

Did any one else here this? I heard it on abc new early this morning (5:00 am) so maybe I was still half asleep.

I don't believe it is old at all. I was reading the other day that some airlines are even starting to think about charging extra if, while making a reservation online, you 'choose' your seats (i.e., the airline will assign you seats; if you opt to choose your own seats, it would be $10 extra or such).

I imagine other airlines will start to follow Continental's example if it sticks (it may not, since by regulation the airline must be able to ensure that whomever has the exit seats are physical capable of opening the exit, should the need arise).

I also read that for domestic flights certain airlines are charging for blankets and pillows.

Soon, I guess I will be making a reservation for a flight, give them my money, and then go catch a bus to my destination since the check-in process and extra fees will be all to much for me to handle.

 

[legalsea]

I thought airlines already did this. I recently booked a trip for dh and I didnt get the seat with more leg room because it was more. (We was willing to pay for it but I didn't know).

Some airlines, like American, set aside certain non-exit seats that cost extra due to the extra legroom; the actual exit-row seats are different, since the purpose of the extra room is in case of an emergency (people exiting)

 

[luvmy3]

Some airlines, like American, set aside certain non-exit seats that cost extra due to the extra legroom; the actual exit-row seats are different, since the purpose of the extra room is in case of an emergency (people exiting)

I think it may have been for a bulkhead seat.
I haven't flown in years except to WDW last year on AirTran, the only extra charge we paid was to pick our seats.

 

[Disney Doll]

Lots of airlines already do this.

 

[Disneyadore]

European airlines do this already for years. We pay 150 Euro pp for the exit row and it is worth every penny.

 

[manning]

We are retired so we can do it. We have the time.

This is the reason we have gone to driving.

We don't have to put up with

security checks
extra charges for
food
special seats
luggage
etc.

 

[eliza61]

European airlines do this already for years. We pay 150 Euro pp for the exit row and it is worth every penny.

LOL, next year they will start charging a premium for the window seat. It will be a seat with a view.

Sorry, still see it as a way to squeeze more money out of the public. If I didn't love Europe so much, I'd stick to driving.

 

[DizBelle]

My DH had an interesting idea - charge by weight. When you get to the airport, you and all of your luggage get on a scale and it is determined by your flight weight if you need to pay more.

We get charged by weight when shipping packages. Why not get charged by weight when "shipping" ourselves?

 

[Micca]

We are retired so we can do it. We have the time.

This is the reason we have gone to driving.

We don't have to put up with

security checks
extra charges for
food
special seats
luggage
etc.

We're not retired and I hate long car trips, but I'm beginning to think it's preferrable to flying. When we retire and travel time is no longer an issue I think we'll be traveling more by auto.

 

[wdwfan16]

I wish they would change some rows to wider 2 seats and then charge 50% more for each seat. I would pay it. This is not the same as paying for three seats wrt comfort. It would cost the same. When DH and I have to fly next year, without the kids, we would love to have this arrangement. Not first class but a step up.

 

[Planogirl]

All of this nickeling and diming people is getting old. I just wonder what's next.

I wish that we weren't so far away from some places!

 

[legalsea]

My DH had an interesting idea - charge by weight. When you get to the airport, you and all of your luggage get on a scale and it is determined by your flight weight if you need to pay more.

We get charged by weight when shipping packages. Why not get charged by weight when "shipping" ourselves?

That is such an appalling idea that I have no doubt the airlines will adopt it!

 

[DizBelle]

That is such an appalling idea that I have no doubt the airlines will adopt it!

Why is it appalling? Weight is the dominant factor in how much it costs to run a flight.

 

[Planogirl]

Why is it appalling? Weight is the dominant factor in how much it costs to run a flight.

It's invasive. Some people don't like that.

 

[stashbin]

Pretty soon they will start charging for air on the planes!
"Oh I'm sorry mam, but you picked a seat without oxygen. To get oxygen you would have had to pay the upcharge!"

 

[OceanAnnie]

My DH had an interesting idea - charge by weight. When you get to the airport, you and all of your luggage get on a scale and it is determined by your flight weight if you need to pay more.

We get charged by weight when shipping packages. Why not get charged by weight when "shipping" ourselves?

I think it will probably come to that. The charges are getting rather numerous.
Just my opinion, but I don't think it's any more invasive than a full body scan. My gosh. Did you guys see the news article about some Bollywood actor that had that scan done and pictures of his naked body was circulated throughout the TSA? In the article (sometime ago) it stated that the pictures were to be destroyed after immediate viewing. But it wasn't so.

Lots of odd things going on.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What they are doing now borders on false advertising. Because different people can avoid some of the extra fees, it isn't illegal, but it is certainly deceptive.

Look at advertised fares. Say you find one for $59 each way. Add on the taxes and fees and you are up to $70+ each way. Need to take a large bag, add another $20. So, your $59 ticket is now $90. That is 53% more than the advertised price.

Yeah, they are raising their prices, but they are doing it while pretending otherwise. I have no problems with airlines charging whatever they wish. Raise prices by as much as you need to remain profitable. But they need to end the deceptive advertising.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

What they are doing now borders on false advertising. Because different people can avoid some of the extra fees, it isn't illegal, but it is certainly deceptive.

Look at advertised fares. Say you find one for $59 each way. Add on the taxes and fees and you are up to $70+ each way. Need to take a large bag, add another $20. So, your $59 ticket is now $90. That is 53% more than the advertised price.

Yeah, they are raising their prices, but they are doing it while pretending otherwise. I have no problems with airlines charging whatever they wish. Raise prices by as much as you need to remain profitable. But they need to end the deceptive advertising.

I don't think its false advertising at all. According the contract of carriage, you are buying a seat on a flight that leaves/arrives on the same date originally purchased. You did not purchase a specific seat, you did not purchase luggage, etc.

Adding ala carte fees allows people to pick and choose which features they want to add. This is similar to buying a car. If you don't want leather, don't buy it. If you don't need a big trunk, don't buy a car with one. If you want extra legroom, pay for it. If you want to bring luggage with you that does not fit within your personal space, pay for it.

I think my biggest gripe with the added fees is that they are not very standardized. If they were equal across airlines it would make it much more convenient, but then there wouldn't really be competition and it could be seen as coohersion (unless it was a federal mandate).