Air France is taking a page from Delta and Northwest’s book. They are starting to charge €50 (about $63) for exit row seats on their Paris to North America routes. Air France claims the charge is in response to passenger demand. Really?
Patrick Roux, Air France vice president marketing, said: “Customers consulted on the introduction of this new service have shown they are interested in an option that guarantees they can travel with extra legroom and allows them to choose their degree of on-board comfort with no fuss and in a totally open seat allocation system.”
The fee has been introduced on Air France services between Paris-CDG and the United States and Canada and will be extended across the long-haul network by winter 2008/2009. The number of seats on each flight will vary between four on A330-200s or A340-300s and up to 37 on B747-400s with an upper deck. The airline said that the number of seats attracting the fee would eventually amount to around 3% of all economy seats on Air France’s long-haul network.
Air France is not alone. Singapore Airlines has decided to follow a similar route. They announced a $50 charge for exit row seats on most of their long-haul flights.
I’m 6′3″ and I have always attempted to grab an exit row seat, however there are drawbacks and tradeoffs for the extra legroom. The seat next to the emergency exit is always far colder than other seats on planes. For overnight flights where I hope to sleep, I rarely will take an exit row seat next to the aircraft door. Storage of carry-ons is far more limited under the seat when sitting in exit row seats on some airlines. And on planes with a double set of doors, like a 757, the forward exit row seats have limited recline.
Now that these two leading airlines across the Atlantic and in Asia have moved to charging for specific seats, travelers should get ready for other international airlines to follow suit. And, I’ll bet that the world’s longest-legged woman will have to start forking over money for her exit-row seats sooner than later.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Passengers ALWAYS view these seat for their comfort. Actually, these seats should be occupied by ABLE-BODY passengers, who can, during an emergency evacuation, can successfully operate the exit and evacate passengers. I see too many elderly, overweight, frail, etc…etc. placed in those rows.
………and, if everyone is so well traveled, please tell me how to operate the door on the MD80 tailcone. Which way does the handle rotate? How do you inflate the slide?
………same with the A321. How do you inflate the slide on the 2L/2R doors?
How about the entry door, it’s different.
MOST frequent flyers DO NOT know these answers!
I always laugh when the airlines claim that they are going to start charging a fee for something “due to customer demand”. I have to wonder how many customers demanded that Air France start charging for exit row seats, were there any? I doubt it. And there are no guarantees that you will get the extra row just because they are now charging a fee for it since there are still a very limited number of them on each flight.
On November 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pm john m said I always laugh when the airlines claim that they are going to start charging a fee for something “due to customer demand”. I have to wonder how many customers demanded that Air France start charging for exit row seats, were there any?
======================================================
How do most airlines allocate those seats? First come, first served? Frequent flyer status? This option gives ANY PASSENGER (who passes exit row seating requirements) the chance to sit there via a fee.
In other words, you want the LEGROOM, you gotta pay for it. Another resource of REVENUE for the airlines. And, they NEED IT.
I wonder what will happen if/when someone books that ER seat and isn’t able to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities of that seat–will they get a refund? A credit? A voucher? Anything at all?
“Customer requests”
Dear [name of airline]:
I have been flying quite a bit lately, and I find myself embarrassed by the riches you bestow upon me in travel. Whether it is the gourmet meal, the vintage wine, the exquisite film selections, the attentive and caring service, or the downy comforter and pillow you practically force upon me, I simply do not feel I deserve such treatment. You’re such a wonderful host — darn it all I just feel guilty. In the future, please charge me more money.
Really, I insist. And there’s no limit — pay toilets, pay-as-you-breathe oxygen masks, seat belt wear-and-tear fees. You name, I’ll pay it. Because you’re just so swell. And you NEED it. (I know this because you keep saying so.)
Yours,
Joe the Passenger
Interesting how my comment wont take.
Anyway, Like I said, profit margins are razor thin in this industry. It’s shown a profit, only twice this decade.
Frank, I have no problem with the airlines charging for more legroom, but please don’t tell me that it’s because of customer demand. It is all about finding more revenue and not about the customer demanding that they be allowed to pay for an exit row seat.