New airline seats offer more legroom, other perks
There’s a rapidly expanding “fourth class” of airline seat, often called “premium economy.”
“These seats are a step up from coach in terms of comfort and price, but several steps below business class,” writes Chris McGinnis at BBC.
Delta Air Lines soon will have completed a rollout of what it calls the "economy comfort" section on its long-haul international fleet.
Passengers in the new section get a standard coach class seat that offers 50 percent more recline plus four additional inches of legroom. Also, complimentary cocktails, as well as other perks.
The cost will be US$80 to $160 each way.
Delta’s move follows United’s expansion of its popular "economy plus" seating to Continental aircraft (starting in 2012) due to the merger of the two carriers.
Economy plus seats are standard coach class seats near the front of the coach cabin with three to five extra inches of legroom.
Unlike Delta, United’s economy plus option is on both domestic and international fleets. All elite level members of United’s Mileage Plus have complimentary access to the seats; others pay as little as $9 for short hops, or as much as $100 for transoceanic flights.
Low-cost US carriers Virgin America and JetBlue also offer upgraded economy class options.
Virgin’s "main cabin select" seats are standard coach seats located at bulkheads and exit rows.
Passengers get more legroom, complimentary food and beverages, and reserved overhead bin space. JetBlue’s "even more legroom" coach seats offer four extra inches of legroom. Both carriers charge extra for these seats based on flight length.
By Anne Kao
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