US Airways Charges for 'Choice Seats'

US Airways Charges for 'Choice Seats'

Wed Apr 16 2008, by TravelTrade Staff

 

A la carte airline service continued to advance with US Airways announcing a "Choice Seats" program beginning May 7, in which the airline will charge extra for a guaranteed window or aisle seat assignment within the first several rows of coach.

The program, announced by the airline's president Scott Kirby in a letter to employees, will offer customers using Web check-in at usairways.com the option to pay extra for the seat assignments. The number of seats available will vary by aircraft, but, he said, will cover about 8% of the airline's seats. Fees will start at $5 per flight, and will depend on destination and segment length.

 

Choice Seats will be available on the majority of US Airways flights, but not on the US Airways Shuttle or on Colgan-operated Saab 340 airplanes.

 

The program will be expanded to airport check-in locations later this year. US Airways' elite frequent-flier members will be able to book Choice Seats free of charge.

 

Kirby cited rising fuel costs for the reason the airline needed to find a way to generate more revenue. He also noted that the airline industry is moving toward a more a la carte model.

haha are you serious? Now you have to pay to select your seats?

NWA and United does this already! i'm sure all airlines will eventually - ugh.

airtran does it too.

Why don't they just cut out the snacks if they want to save a few pennies.

northwest is charging for snacks now

JetBlue does it too, well you can pay extra for more leg room.

haha geez. Do you still get pillows and blankets for free? (this really grosses me out anyways.)

yeah, i don't use their pillows & blankets. I hope they don't start charging per bathroom break. I won't be able to afford to fly.

we keep saying that's next just kidding, but i bet it will happen sooner than we think. i always keep thinking of the old commercial (like 1980-something) where the guy is trying to get 3 quarters for a dollar or whatever so he can use the airplane restroom! i think that was actually one of our commercials, too funny

hey have you guys seen this:
SkyHigh Airlines

it's a total spoof we made about 4 or 5 years ago, like our alter-ego-airline. its sad, but it's actually becoming closer to reality than someone in our marketing department ever imagined