Now you're going to have a middle seat for sure
Filed under: Travel
An internal memo at British Airways has been leaked, and it portends a gloomy next step for the major carriers. As of Oct. 7, the airline confirmed to WalletPop, everyone flying on its jets will have to pay extra if they want a seat assignment before they get to the airport. Up to now, that's something that only the cut-rate carriers (like Spirit) have been doing in America.
As every regular traveler knows, the only seats left by the day of departure are usually the least desirable ones: the middle seats. This means that unless you want to be packed into the middle seat for that seven-hour transatlantic flight, you have to pony up. Those who scrimp now will be squeezed in later.
The charge is particularly heinous because of who's applying it. Americans already pay huge service fees on British Airways for the right to land in the United Kingdom. Often, the accumulated taxes and charges levied by the government there can equal the price of the transatlantic fare, particularly for flights to London. So this extra £20 (about $33) is something that Americans can not afford.
The only people excluded from the charge are its executive members. Considering that British Airways' frequent flier benefits are unusually difficult to attain for an airline, you can probably forget about that route. And don't forget that just because the charge earns you the right to get your seat assignment, it doesn't guarantee you the seat type you want -- just the right to select before you get to the airport.
It's true that the former B.O.A.C, British Airways, is going through some rough air, financially speaking, but it's also true that in the airline industry, where one goes the rest soon follow.
The old-world airlines are not breaking the sound barrier anymore (or the mold for condescending public relations prattle, as BA claims the new fee is "to give customers more control over their seating options"), but they certainly are breaking new barriers in surcharges.
Unless you want to spend another $66 for your trip, it's elbows in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-25-2009 @ 3:07PM
l.gold said...
airtran does it too
last time was $6
Reply
9-25-2009 @ 2:51PM
finely tuned and polished said...
Rebecca.. nothing will help you, not even directing ones to your sight !
Reply
9-25-2009 @ 3:01PM
Amy said...
This is nothing new. Sun Country Airlines has been charging this fee for a while. I gladly pay the fee so that me, my husband, and 2 small children can sit together on the plane.
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9-25-2009 @ 3:15PM
Charles said...
In "times past" when business was bad, it was normal practice to offer a better price or extra service as an incentive to attract more business. It seems the business model has changed! When the airlines are losing money and business is bad, they raise prices, cut service and generally do what they can to drive customers away. Another example is the post office . When it began to lose business,it raised prices and cut service. When customers complained that it took too long at the post office, they removed the clocks! I'll never usderstand the new business model!
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9-25-2009 @ 5:45PM
Sheree Stubblefield said...
Very good observation! They must be very desparate!
9-25-2009 @ 3:26PM
Jerry said...
And next will be paid toilets on the planes. I would use the barf bag, but then they might even charge for one of them. What next, have to buy a seat belt? The airlines are getting away with to much.They complain not enough people traveling these days, I wonder why. If they can charge passengers a cancellation fee, then why can't passengers get a cut back for late flights,missed connections, or just sitting in the plane on the runway for 8 hours. The crew gets paid, why not the passengers.
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9-25-2009 @ 3:32PM
John F.C. Taylor said...
Hmmm! If things continue the way they are, airplanes may shrink in size to help cut costs of airplane purchases by the airlines. This may eliminate the middle seat entirely. Did anyone else see the article about sideways seating? Would the middle seat surcharge still apply if that arrangement went into effect?
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9-25-2009 @ 3:33PM
The Captain said...
The Funny Thing about all this, is that every time that I've flown, I invariably get the "Emergency Exit" seat. It seems that the Air Carriers like having some big, burly guy directly next to the "Rip This Panel Out, And Throw It Away" section of the plane. I suppose that I cant blame them. These seats ALWAYS have the Most room, Period. Next time you fly, take a look at the Escape Seats. Quite Roomy, Indeed.
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9-25-2009 @ 3:52PM
Chris said...
You can pick your friends....and you can pick your seat. But you can't pick your friend's seat.
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9-25-2009 @ 4:23PM
kmar20009 said...
I paid per segment (2) each way on USAIR recently. One segment they charged me for a middle seat. And no, it was exit row or bulkhead.. .just plain middle seat. The flight attendant felt badly, and offered me a free cocktail and tried to move me to a better seat, but as I don't drink and we were ready to take off, I just accepted it.
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9-25-2009 @ 5:11PM
Lois said...
Are the airlines trying to destroy their business? This is unbelievable! I won't travel by air on those carriers that continually take our choices while they steal our money.
Enough is enough.
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9-25-2009 @ 5:21PM
frequent flyer said...
Just another reason not to fly BA.
Reply
9-25-2009 @ 5:28PM
KEN said...
AFTER THIS YEAR MY FLYING DAYS ARE OVER, I WOULD RATHER SEE THE AIRLINES GO BROKE THAN TO FILL THEIR POCKETS. MORE AMERICANS SHOULD DO THE SAME AND SAY "TO HELL WITH FLYING".
Reply
9-25-2009 @ 5:41PM
Bob said...
It's real easy call Britishair and tell them that if they do this they will lose business. Tell them that there are plenty of major airlines that fly the same routes for the same price if not sometimes cheaper . exp.Viirginair,American airlines and United. Enough people call and they will put an end to this before they implement the new policy. If people don't complain they have no one to blame but themselfs.
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9-29-2009 @ 1:06PM
up up and away said...
I have been flying on commercial aircraft since the days of props. taking the flying public from city to city and across oceans to many different destinations. Eastern Air, betwen New York City and Washigtons' National Airport if the plane in New York was full they would bring another plane from a hanger and take you to Washington even if you were the only person left at the gate.Passengers paid the fair on board after the plane was in flight.The flight atendents would roll there drink cart up the center aisle with there credit card machine ready to take your credit card or cash. Ahhh!! The jet age, such an improvement for the flying public. No more flames streaming out of the engines on a prop. ETAs' cut in half. The smooth take offs and landings, in flight comfort at its best. Now, flyng is a tangled mess of long lines, searches, ID appearing exactly as it was given when the reservation was made, long delays on the runways,no food,smaller seats, less leg room,rude flight crews tired of the cranky public boarding already un-nerved from the never ending stress prior to boarding. Not allowed to form a line to use the head,one must keep there neck croked around to see if the head is available. The discomforts go on and on. And to add injury to insult, we now have to pay for our bags to be flown with us, that or bring no bags and just buy all new clothes when we arrive at our distination, if that occurs at all with the fright of terrorism we are constantly reminded of. And what about all those taxes attached to our ticket price? Well those taxes should keep us safer-- right? Our towers grossly inadaquate for the volume of flights criss crossing the continent. I have a headache just typing this abuse of the flying public. Right down to just merely paying a fine to the FAA if they fail to do proper maitience on there aicraft. Boy that sure maks us feel real safe on bord the aircraft. So briefly, isn't the jet age such a wonderfull step into the future. Everything the jet age gave us in less flying time from point A to point B is lost in all the charges, worries, searches, rules,fears,delays, and above all, the excitement and the feeling of belonging to the future of commercial air travel from the propellered aircraft to the Jet Age. Now "IT SUCKS"
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9-25-2009 @ 6:57PM
Mike said...
How about charging these a-holes for every minute they're late taking off? This is getting ridiculous.
Reply
9-25-2009 @ 6:54PM
Ric said...
Airlines SUCK! If I NEVER get on one again, it will be too soon! "See the USA, in your Chevrolet... or whatever AMERICAN car you drive (Cadillac and Saturn, here!).
Reply
9-26-2009 @ 12:51AM
Ed said...
Nothing new. Spirit has been doing this for over a year. $24 for a window seat, $12 for an end seat. Not to worry though... you can choose a center seat @ no extra charge. When you add in $3 for a soda, $25 for your first checked bag, and $5 for head phones... well you get the picture.
Originally it wasn't too bad because their overall fares were well below the competition, but now their fares are the same or more than the competition. Needless to say they are off my list.
Reply
9-26-2009 @ 10:30AM
Steve said...
This is EXACTLY why Southwest Airlines needs to start flying International routes. No added fees, friendly flight crew and great ontime performance records.
Reply