Another day, another dollar . . . of ancillary revenue that US Airways is hoping to get out of you. While you’re likely to hear the usual chorus of “boo’s” from the peanut gallery, this isn’t really a bad move for the airline or for passengers.
Here’s the deal. Right now, US Airways blocks off exit rows as well as windows and aisles at the front of the plane for advance booking by elite customers only. Actually, most airlines do this. So what they’re going to do now is allow non-elites to pay to reserve the seats up front (but not the exit rows) at the time of check-in if they’d like. Pretty simple concept.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Right now, those elite seats open for anyone to book at 1201a on the day of departure. So, if you check-in online before midnight, this is just going to be an added bonus for you that you can pay to reserve the seats. If you check-in on the actual day of your departure, well, then you’re going to have to pay for what was once free.
How much? According to US Airways, it’s “per segment, lowest will be $5 and at least $30 on the high end, subject to change.” So would you ever pay for this? It’s unlikely that I would. I mean, if I’m traveling with a family and we can’t get seat assignments together, this will save a lot of the hassle of shifting around at the airport, but I don’t have kids, so this isn’t a big issue for me.
But that hardly makes it a bad idea. It’s all about paying extra for added value these days. If people think this is worthwhile, then they’ll pay for it. If not, well, then they won’t. My guess is that US Airways isn’t expecting a ton of revenue out of this, but assuming there was minimal tech work involved, even a handful of takers will make it a profitable move.
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22 Comments on "US Airways Choice Seats Not as Bad as You Think"
CF, i like you best when you’re cranky.
So the strategy for me is to wait for the last second to check in? Only 1/3 of the seats are middle seats and they will be assigned to cheapskates who check in first. The rest will have to get the ‘good’ aisle and window seats, right?
Flying with families makes it hard though… Their surcharge for 2nd bag, even for a 3+3 leg international flight where they operate only the first & last leg made me avoid them for the June family flight.
BAD, BAD idea, Does the airline still have to comply with the CFR’s?
Personally I have had to do a few emergency evacuations and on a few flights I have had to refresh the cabin attendants to the CFR’s.
In my mind, I want to know the one sitting next to the emergency exit is capable to perform the duties and not that they paid for the “privilege” of a few extra inches.
Papa Kilo – Just to clarify, emergency exit rows are not included in this. Only elite members can reserve exit rows for no charge.
That being said, I don’t see why it matters if someone pays for the exit row or not. They still have to comply with the regulations to sit there. So what’s the difference is someone pays or if someone just happens to get lucky to reserve the seats?
US elites + those who pay get access to the preferred (read forward aisle and window) seats. Non-US elites have to take their chances under the new policy, or pay – ie are treated just the same as non elites.
What if the flight is not full? Seat police to keep the huddled masses from moving out of their places in center seats in the back of the (air)bus? Then what – a Rosa Parks of the air? Only updated with video clips on You Tube of the passenger being dragged off by TSA for “failing to follow a crew member’s order” to return their center seat.
All fine and dandy for US Airways but I’ll bitter about the “it’s a better seat” comment and the $25 I spent a short while ago. Now tO cone up with a way to cost them $25 and complain to be in the rare “only 1 in 1000 complain” crowd.
Also positive there was extra gap between the seats in the monitor. Can anyone chck next time doing electronic checkin?
Global Traveller:
I agree on most of your points although as LH *G I can understand LH strategy for lounge allocation and brand reinforcement.
LH offers Senator Lounge access for *G instead of their business lounges like UA and SQ do. As a result there is an overload of *Alliance passengers using what supposedly is a perk of its own elite travelers ( I am one of the disgruntled ones…). It is understandable then that for its F passenger LH wants to offer exclusivity real quality
Cranky, what’s up? Did you wake up on the right side of the bed? ;)
Ok, ok, I get it! You can all revel in the fact that I’m writing about Alitalia tomorrow, so you know the snark will return.
[…] vents about this decision and reminds us it’s not a new change (Northwest did it in 2006) and The Cranky Flier sees it as an opportunity for non-elite customers to get better seats. Which side of the debate to […]
I live in Phoenix as a realtor and fly Us air because of the number of flights from arizona. We are hearing that Delta and US Air will merge. Any news as to if this thing is going to happen. greg moser
Greg – I have heard no such rumor. In fact, that would positively shock me. Delta is way to busy with Northwest right now to bother with US Airways.
Now a US Airways and United merger? Now that Continental is out of the picture, this one seems to be the hot topic.
I think this is another boondoggle. A way to reduce customer satisfaction so we will all be grateful to the airlines for allowing us to fly.
Not convenient for families on any level or anyone that tries to save hard earned money. Please complain to your airlines about how confusing and unfair these seating up-charge processes are!
Its a terrible idea when the result a few years later is that every available seat is either a seat which can only be booked by preferred members or a choice seat. If I have a return flight with 2 segments each way and every seat that is available is a choice seat which I find HIGHLY suspect, whats the difference between this and just charging me an extra $60 ($15*4) right from the get go????
Am I to understand that, unlike United, the “premium” seats on US Air do not have any additional legroom? I just upgraded for a Christmas trip to Maui and will be right ticked if the premium does not get me more legroom.
Jim – That is correct. There is no extra legroom for US Airways choice seats.