EasyJet to charge for pre-allocated seats
EasyJet will start charging passengers for the privilege of reserving specific seats for the first time, but the airline insists the move is to take the stress out of boarding rather than to raise more money.
The airline will charge £8 to reserve seats in rows two to eight, £12 for seats with extra legroom and £3 for all the others.
The carrier, which yesterday announced it would lose less money this winter than previously anticipated, said it will trial pre-allocated seating on several routes next month.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall told The Times the airline had spent £5m on a new computer system for seat reservations to "take the stress out of boarding", which she admitted was a barrier to people travelling with the airline.
She went on to say that she didn’t expect the vast majority of passengers to pay to reserve seats and she insisted those who chose not to pay would still be able to sit with their flight companions.
The first destinations to offer the service include Sharm-el-Sheikh, Istanbul, Malaga and Alicante. The airline will email passengers booked on flights to these destinations to give them to option of paying for pre-allocated seating from April.
EasyJet announced yesterday that it expects half-year losses to the end of March of £110m to £120m, compared to a £153m loss in the same period last year.
It had earlier forecast a loss of £140m to £160m but it said the milder winter, which resulted in less disruption and lower de-icing costs, reduced competition and better than expected yields had cut its losses.
The carrier said rising fuel prices would add £145m to its costs in the second half of the year.
EasyJet today launched its first service to Iceland, which will operate three times a week all year from London Luton Airport to Reykjavik.
By Linsey McNeill and Diane Evans
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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