Choice seating

[tadjr]

1) No one is being forced to buy these seats.
2) "Dont go into other people's wallets" since they might be willing to buy an aisle in row 5 instead of taking that free middle seat in row 34. If they dont want to buy it, get to the airport early and you can have it for free if its still there or reserve a different seat in advance if some other aisle/window is still available.
3) If I'm willing to sit in a middle seat and get a cheap fare (or try to snag a bargain free aisle seat day of departure) I dont want to pay more for my ticket. While I think the prices need to rise, many people dont want to pay full price if they arent going to use all the amenities. Many would rather pay cheap and "upsize" if they want to.
4) If its something that customers arent being forced to purchase (its really their choice whether they want it or not) it isnt nickel and diming, its a la carte. If they had no option but to buy a seat number, then it would be nickel and diming.

 

[aredeeyou22]

1) No one is being forced to buy these seats.
2) "Dont go into other people's wallets" since they might be willing to buy an aisle in row 5 instead of taking that free middle seat in row 34. If they dont want to buy it, get to the airport early and you can have it for free if its still there or reserve a different seat in advance if some other aisle/window is still available.
3) If I'm willing to sit in a middle seat and get a cheap fare (or try to snag a bargain free aisle seat day of departure) I dont want to pay more for my ticket. While I think the prices need to rise, many people dont want to pay full price if they arent going to use all the amenities. Many would rather pay cheap and "upsize" if they want to.
4) If its something that customers arent being forced to purchase (its really their choice whether they want it or not) it isnt nickel and diming, its a la carte. If they had no option but to buy a seat number, then it would be nickel and diming.

Great post. It is funny to hear people say "just raise the fares." I believe that is what airlines in the USA have been trying to do for some time, only to be undercut by certain players, and plagued with too much capacity. Round and round....

It is somewhat disturbing that airlines, from AA right down to F9, are not able to charge fares to even cover their operating costs. Some airlines, such as US, left without strong hubs such as NYC, ORD, and DFW, have it even worse in my opinion. Do airlines have a choice but to "nickel and dime" the consumer?

The way I see it, US was just the first to cut all/ most of the onboard amenities. Ahead of the "game" if you will. It was, and continues to be, painful. While no one likes to see it (me included, I have nothing to offer onboard!), it's the way it is, and it is coming to an airline near you.

I have been re-reading threads on here about how a large percentage of the VFF's have left USAirways for CO, AA, DL, and the like. It seems people feel that US is focusing on the "Kettles", and higher fare business passengers are leaving in droves, (much to the employees chagrin...). That said, with these higher revenue streams being at AA and DL and CO now, wouldn't they be able to turn a profit, or at least lose a lot less money that US? Especially with the higher revenue opportunities in DFW, ATL, and EWR respectively?

We shall see....

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Was this the Jim OBrien that died sky diving? If so, I was a big fan and in college when he died, it was the first time I REALLY felt bad about the passing of a stranger. My husband used to tell jokes about it and I would get so mad. Sorry, back to the topic at hand. Mama

Yes. I remember we were getting a Nor'easter snow storm, he pulled up a chair and sat down on it, and warned how serious an event it was going to be. He died skydiving in Gilbertsville.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

The public that purchases coach seats are getting the wrong end of the stick.
First, there is no value given for your money. The seats are already there and that isn't going to change---ever!
Second, unless the plane is configured with massage seats, they aren't any better than first class.
What I'd like to see: All passengers request the middle seat. If they can't fulfill your request, they have to put you somewhere, right? It would be in an isle or window seat without a charge because you didn't request that seat. That, or a lot of people sitting in the middle seat would be traveling alone. Gotta love that!

Just raise the stupid airfare for every ticket and get it over with.

I agree. Raise the fare. Stop Nickle and dimeing the passenger. They'll pay $299 for the fare, but look at all the BS if you charge them $178 + extra bag and seat assignment. Even though its still cheaper the latter quote, but people will rather pay more knowing that is the only fee/fare they will be charged.

 

[Gibsonwood]

A number of airlines have already implemented similar "a la carte" pricing for items customers place value on. Examples even at US Airways include A-for-First (maybe no longer there since the folks in PHX took over), charging for the second checked bag, etc. Ultimately, the response to people who say to simply raise fares is that unfortunately the flying public will not pay a nickle more than they need to, and have proven time and again that they are a fickle bunch with little or no loyalty (except for premium elite frequent flyers).

That being said, they will pay for upgrades. What are the airlines to do? If there is a way to get the flying public to pay for items they value (knowing that not all customers value the same thing), shouldn't the airlines be able to do it? With oil prices at $115/bbl, they will all be back in CH 11 or worse if they can not start finding ways to increase the top line. Since it is actually more difficult to raise fares across the board, we should not be surprised to see this sort of a la carte pricing. I'd expect to see more of it, not less (charge for 1st checked bag; charge to guarantee family seating; charge to guarantee seating in a no-baby zone - who knows??).

 

[SS255]

I agree. Raise the fare. Stop Nickle and dimeing the passenger. They'll pay $299 for the fare, but look at all the BS if you charge them $178 + extra bag and seat assignment. Even though its still cheaper the latter quote, but people will rather pay more knowing that is the only fee/fare they will be charged.

Very true. Offer me my menu options at the time of purchase, so I can make an informed purchasing decision. Let me pick and choose what I'm willing to pay for, and let me do it in one credit card transaction. Disclose all fees upfront, and give me the flexibility to defer making those purchasing decisions once I arrive at the airport. But let me pay for them now if I so choose. Don't nickel and dime me at check-in, at the airport, at the gate, at the Club, on board....or anywhere else.

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

What I'd like to see:[/b] [/color]All passengers request the middle seat.

You first.

 

[ggiby]

IIRC it's $15.00 each segment.

The biggest thing with me in this regard is why do airlines in general price at LESS than it cost to deliver the product? There are flights in the US system at 4 cents a seat mile which is one quarter of what it cost to deliver me to the destination.

Fiddling around with a seat upcharge is just silly. I can just see the G/A's announcing "Would anyone like to Biggie Size their current seat for an additional $25.00" Tacky as US is I'd better not give any ideas

Fix the damn business model and be done with it. Then this constant rearranging of deck chairs on the Titanic won't be required every few years.

there is no fixing this business model as I have said many times before..

its a bus now... Ok

as a bus..

and on the bus U sit w/ everyone... and actually its cheaper then the bus to fly

so now we are greyhound in the sky...

It is sad and very sad.... but true... we are all on the bus...

but hey...

guess what...???

I will give you a Coke... and its free...?????? LOL

 

[Travelpro72]

I don't really see it as nickel and diming as there isn't really any other way to get more money out of the casual flier. Fare hikes don't stick as others will not follow. My goodness even Greyhound since we brouught them up is charging a fare as high as $72.00 between PIT-PHL and thats 306 ground miles. I mean c'mon you can get that for almost HALF on WN. It's a joke.

 

[happy01]

I was just on the US Airways website and noticed that the exit row seats are marked for preferred members. Are they jumping the gun or has it always been this way and I never noticed?

 

[Dog Wonder]

If I pay for a better seat and have to sit next to really big mama in the center seat, can I get my 5 dollars back?

 

[Travelpro72]

I was just on the US Airways website and noticed that the exit row seats are marked for preferred members. Are they jumping the gun or has it always been this way and I never noticed?

That is nothing new. Even on express a/c like the crj the exit rows are blocked along with the first row of the cabin.

 

[john john]

** Just curious if you're also the customer that says they just had knee surgery and are on crutches and need an exit row seat for the extra leg room because they cant bend their knee?

NO just the typical disadvantaged we all know my sort. And you better watch out I have the law behind me

 

[BuffaloJoe]

If I pay for a better seat and have to sit next to really big mama in the center seat, can I get my 5 dollars back?

You mean you don't want to rub up against Big Mama for that 5 Hour flight? Maybe you can share a blanket, and have some hanky panky. I'd bet she'd be more willing to do that. Just think of all the Love she has to offer.

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

You first.

It wasn't necessary. I made my reservations before this idiotic plan reached fruitation. I'm grandfathered for my seat selection to and from Hawaii. Maybe next time. I now fly maybe once a year, but I have flown in a lot of middle seats when I used to non-rev a lot. To me, flying isn't near as much fun as it used to be.