Airline passengers should sit down for this one

Saturday, 06 Dec, 2011 0

Airlines are looking for the next big thing in fees and it’s come down to where you sit. Passengers will be paying more for it, and for those who want more leg room, the price is also going up.

“Travel experts expect the trend to spread, just like baggage fees and early boarding charges,’ says the McClatchy-Tribune information.

Examples:

—Delta not long ago started an ”Economy Comfort” option which charges $4 for window and aisle seats near the main cabin.

—American is offering “preferred seats for a fee that is not required of elite flyers.

—JetBlue Airways added what it calls an "Even More Space" option earlier this year. Among other perks, seats are larger. The fee is $10.

"The airlines are continuing to look at ways they can charge fees to make a profit," said Matt Daimler, founder of SeatGuru.com.

SeatGuru’s online polls in recent years have showed that travelers would be willing to pay up to 10 percent more for a seat with more leg room.

For those who want the beat the extra charges, one way suggested by experts is to wait until the last minute when the seats might not have been sold. Of course, then there’s the risk of the dreaded “middle seat.”

By David Wilkening



 

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