NWA to charge $15 for Aisle/Exit Seat

CRJDriver · March 16th, 2006, 11:19

Jay Leno was making fun of this last night, so I thought I'd post it here and see what everyone else thinks....

Quote:

Northwest Airlines Corp. to Charge $15 Extra for Prime Coach Seats
March 15, 2006 - 22:16:18

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) - For an extra $15, Northwest Airlines Corp. will sell coach passengers a few more inches of legroom.

Starting Tuesday, Northwest will ask passengers on most domestic flights if they're interested in paying extra for certain prime seats in coach _ exit-row seats or aisle seats near the front of the cabin.

The "Coach Choice" program will involve about 5 percent of seats on Northwest's domestic flights.

Northwest's exit-row seats can have 10 to 13 inches of extra leg room. And many air travelers prefer the convenience and extra elbow room of aisle seats to center and window seats.

Jim Cron, vice president of passenger marketing and sales, said Northwest is trying to give more flexibility to passengers who book late. They're often the travelers who pay full fare, but often find that the only seats left are middle seats in the back of the plane because leisure travelers who booked early reserved the best seats.

Northwest, the nation's fourth-largest airline, has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since September. Cron acknowledged the carrier is scouting ways to increase revenue but declined to estimate how much the $15 fee might generate.

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways, a unit of Virgin Group Ltd., already assess a premium for certain desirable coach seats.

tonyw · March 16th, 2006, 11:21

Might work, might not. Who knows? At least they're doing something other than taking away pillows and olives.

I do like the concept. Charge more for your higher quality seats. You pay more for a box seat at the ballpark than you do for a nosebleed seat, so why should airlines be any different?

desertdog71 · March 16th, 2006, 11:22

Thats a Traveshamockery!!!!

Dazzler · March 16th, 2006, 11:51

They'd better not charge the extra $15 if THEY assign the passenger those seats!

awacs94 · March 16th, 2006, 13:34

How low can the airlines go?

blee256 · March 16th, 2006, 13:50

I think its a great idea. If you dont want the extra leg room, dont buy it. its as simple as that. SWA, the darlings of the industry, make larger people buy 2 seats, if they overflow out of theirs. So if you want to stretch out your legs, its only gonna cost you an extra 15 dollars.

Management is at least looking for ways to create another revenue stream. Its creative, its outside the box thinking. Do you know how many times, when I have deadheard, commuted, or as paying passenger, I have heard pax approach the gate agent and ask about exit row or an aisle seat? the demand is there, so y not charge for it? its simple economics supply vs. demand.

LostComm · March 16th, 2006, 14:40

If the plane goes down and I have to open the emergency door, do I get my 15 bucks back?

ComplexHiAv8r · March 16th, 2006, 14:43

Better marketing would be for all seat prices to go up and then discount the middle seat. How many would go for that?

CRJDriver · March 16th, 2006, 14:51

I just remembered what Jay Leno said last night…

"So, Northwest Airlines is starting to charge passengers an extra $15 if they want an aisle/emergency exit seat. What's next? They are going to start charging an extra $100 if we want a sober pilot?"

Mr_Creepy · March 16th, 2006, 15:30

it's an excellent idea. chances are it will open those seats up to non-revs again - where they belong!

Kristie · March 16th, 2006, 16:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostComm

If the plane goes down and I have to open the emergency door, do I get my 15 bucks back?

comeon.. it's $15...are ya really that cheap? cuz if so, then that explains why salaries are going lower and lower....

plus when you think about it - most people sit in the exit row because they want more leg/arm room not because they want to be the first to evacuate!

blee256 · March 16th, 2006, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostComm

If the plane goes down and I have to open the emergency door, do I get my 15 bucks back?

haha

pkrgod · March 16th, 2006, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

comeon.. it's $15...are ya really that cheap? cuz if so, then that explains why salaries are going lower and lower....

I think it was a joke, but how does this explain why salaries are going lower and lower??

JEP · March 16th, 2006, 18:08

GEez, People. It's a very small percentage of the seats that they will save for possible sale and the $15. It's not EVERY seat will be charged the extra $15. They have said it is geared towards the 'late' arriving/checking in passenger that always gets stuck with whatever is left. They will now be able to pay the $15 for running late if they want the extra room.

desertdog71 · March 16th, 2006, 18:30

I always liked the Exit rows myself. I don't mind tossing a few people out the emergency exit or the $15.00 to sit there. Nice to have that option actual. Please excuse my Traveshamockery comment from earlier. I was over caffinated, and sleep deprived at the time.

aloft · March 16th, 2006, 21:03

In practice, I don't think this will do so well. They're not going to reserve those seats in case someone wants to pay for one at checkin time, and I doubt they'll go to the hassle of not pre-assigning seats for everyone else.

lostplanetairman · March 16th, 2006, 21:03

A frequent flier will weigh in:

The problem is that this also applies to the elite passengers who are the source of the most revenue. They book for business and don't get to charge the extra cost to their companies. And on a multiple segment flight, it's $15 for each leg. Furthermore, if they book a full coach fare and choose the aisle seat, pay the $15 themselves and then get upgraded, they lose the $15. Sorry, but there is a full fledged revolt being organized. Many are delighting in sending Cron a copy of their receipts for huge fares booked away from NWA. A very popular radio station in DTW is providing free airtime to Spirit, SWA, AirTran, etc to show people that they could get a better product on a LCC out of DTW than on NWA.

They should just raise the overall fares and stop this nonsense.

mtsu_av8er · March 16th, 2006, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkrgod

I think it was a joke, but how does this explain why salaries are going lower and lower??

Wasn't a joke at all. Salaries are going lower because people want nothing but low fares. It's almost like they're willing to forgoe safety to keep the fares low!

lostplanetairman · March 16th, 2006, 23:27

With all due respect, you have it wrong. Every time an airline tried to raise fares, NWA would not go along. They dug themselves into this hole.

We, who are frequent fliers (and I mean those of us that spend more than $100,000 each year on airfares) would not mind an extra bump as long as it is reasonable. "It's the fares, stoopid." Remember we book full fares, not discount fares. Rationalize them and we're happy. Gouge us, nickel and dime us, and we're ticked--to the point of booking elsewhere. And I am both ticked and booking elsewhere.

E_Dawg · March 16th, 2006, 23:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Wasn't a joke at all. Salaries are going lower because people want nothing but low fares. It's almost like they're willing to forgoe safety to keep the fares low!

Because safety is a guaranteed commodity regardless of price!

Kristie · March 17th, 2006, 03:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkrgod

I think it was a joke, but how does this explain why salaries are going lower and lower??

just based on ppl not wanting to even pay $15 for something like that.. that's all...

frog_flyer · March 17th, 2006, 04:56

remember when southwest made 'large' people buy 2 seats?

that made day

sopdan · March 17th, 2006, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by frog_flyer

remember when southwest made 'large' people buy 2 seats?

that made day

As far as I know they still do... someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

As for the $15, I'd be willing to pay it, but does this apply to early reservations? I could never book an exit row seat before b/c I'm not an 'Elite' perks member, just a regular-type member. Why should late people be the ones to get that opportunity? Hell, if they don't want it, I'll take it. I'm only 5'11" and have enough room... that is, until the jackass in front of me (often an 8 yo kid w/ bad parents) slams his or her seat back into my legs as fast as possible.

Funny story: Going home for Thanksgiving, there was this guy sitting in the middle seat next to me, about 6'6" and huge (looked like a 40 year old version of Deebo from Friday) but was as nice as could be. About half-way through the flight while he was sleeping the guy in front of him slammed his seat back. Needless to say there wasn't much room to put the seat back. The initial reaction of the guy next to me was to take both his arms and slam the seat forward as fast as possible... quickly enough that the guy ahead was flung forward a little bit. Probably the best thing I've seen as on a flight. Maybe you had to be there.

ComplexHiAv8r · March 17th, 2006, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopdan

.... slams his or her seat back into my legs as fast as possible.

Wasnt there an airline in Europe that asked their customers about improvements on aircraft and they indicated for seats to NOT recline, and they were doing that on interior upgrades?

Doug Taylor · March 17th, 2006, 17:09

The people that slam their seats back and then spend four hours leaning forward kill me.

March 16th, 2006, 11:21	#2
tonyw Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 15,922	Might work, might not. Who knows? At least they're doing something other than taking away pillows and olives. I do like the concept. Charge more for your higher quality seats. You pay more for a box seat at the ballpark than you do for a nosebleed seat, so why should airlines be any different? __________________ http://www.photo.net/photos/tonywang for my photos

March 16th, 2006, 11:22	#3
desertdog71 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KIDP/KCNU Posts: 3,008	Thats a Traveshamockery!!!! __________________ www.flywhiteair.com http://www.myspace.com/desertdog71 Following message is for SkyCougar. Took my chances on a big jet plane, Never let them tell you that they're all the same.

March 16th, 2006, 11:51	#4
Dazzler Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,038	They'd better not charge the extra $15 if THEY assign the passenger those seats! __________________ CSEL-IA AGI IGI CFI CFII Little children may destroy a house... But they make a home.

March 16th, 2006, 13:34	#5
awacs94 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 272	How low can the airlines go? __________________ "Air N'doogoo" flying a MEL-ridden Tupolev 154 with a 22 year-old Chechen crew." - Doug

March 16th, 2006, 13:50	#6
blee256 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: lower canada Posts: 1,666	I think its a great idea. If you dont want the extra leg room, dont buy it. its as simple as that. SWA, the darlings of the industry, make larger people buy 2 seats, if they overflow out of theirs. So if you want to stretch out your legs, its only gonna cost you an extra 15 dollars. Management is at least looking for ways to create another revenue stream. Its creative, its outside the box thinking. Do you know how many times, when I have deadheard, commuted, or as paying passenger, I have heard pax approach the gate agent and ask about exit row or an aisle seat? the demand is there, so y not charge for it? its simple economics supply vs. demand. __________________ According to a report by Goldman Sachs economists, "the most important contributor to higher profit margins over the past five years has been a decline in labor's share of national income."

March 16th, 2006, 14:40	#7
LostComm Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 203	If the plane goes down and I have to open the emergency door, do I get my 15 bucks back?

March 16th, 2006, 14:43	#8
ComplexHiAv8r Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: OH or is it MX?? Posts: 4,881	Better marketing would be for all seat prices to go up and then discount the middle seat. How many would go for that?

March 16th, 2006, 14:51	#9
CRJDriver Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: CVG Posts: 1,077	I just remembered what Jay Leno said last night… "So, Northwest Airlines is starting to charge passengers an extra $15 if they want an aisle/emergency exit seat. What's next? They are going to start charging an extra $100 if we want a sober pilot?" __________________

March 16th, 2006, 15:30	#10
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,810	it's an excellent idea. chances are it will open those seats up to non-revs again - where they belong! __________________ "You know you're winning an argument with a liberal when they start calling you names" johntenney.com The PEO Message Myspace My Business - PEO Pros

March 16th, 2006, 18:30	#15
desertdog71 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KIDP/KCNU Posts: 3,008	I always liked the Exit rows myself. I don't mind tossing a few people out the emergency exit or the $15.00 to sit there. Nice to have that option actual. Please excuse my Traveshamockery comment from earlier. I was over caffinated, and sleep deprived at the time. __________________ www.flywhiteair.com http://www.myspace.com/desertdog71 Following message is for SkyCougar. Took my chances on a big jet plane, Never let them tell you that they're all the same.

March 16th, 2006, 21:03	#16
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 7,148	In practice, I don't think this will do so well. They're not going to reserve those seats in case someone wants to pay for one at checkin time, and I doubt they'll go to the hassle of not pre-assigning seats for everyone else. __________________ ________\|________ -------(o)- ------° ° °

March 16th, 2006, 21:03	#17
lostplanetairman Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: A Posts: 144	A frequent flier will weigh in: The problem is that this also applies to the elite passengers who are the source of the most revenue. They book for business and don't get to charge the extra cost to their companies. And on a multiple segment flight, it's $15 for each leg. Furthermore, if they book a full coach fare and choose the aisle seat, pay the $15 themselves and then get upgraded, they lose the $15. Sorry, but there is a full fledged revolt being organized. Many are delighting in sending Cron a copy of their receipts for huge fares booked away from NWA. A very popular radio station in DTW is providing free airtime to Spirit, SWA, AirTran, etc to show people that they could get a better product on a LCC out of DTW than on NWA. They should just raise the overall fares and stop this nonsense.

March 16th, 2006, 23:27	#19
lostplanetairman Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: A Posts: 144	With all due respect, you have it wrong. Every time an airline tried to raise fares, NWA would not go along. They dug themselves into this hole. We, who are frequent fliers (and I mean those of us that spend more than $100,000 each year on airfares) would not mind an extra bump as long as it is reasonable. "It's the fares, stoopid." Remember we book full fares, not discount fares. Rationalize them and we're happy. Gouge us, nickel and dime us, and we're ticked--to the point of booking elsewhere. And I am both ticked and booking elsewhere.

March 17th, 2006, 04:56	#22
frog_flyer Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FTW Posts: 4,092	remember when southwest made 'large' people buy 2 seats? that made day __________________ "There needs to be more drinking here on JC. We need more ******* partying!" -Doug Taylor 260TT 25 ME

March 17th, 2006, 17:09	#25
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,926 Blog Entries: 1	The people that slam their seats back and then spend four hours leaning forward kill me. __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

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