Qantas will penalise the tall by charging passengers extra for reserving economy class exit-row seats on its international flights.
Passengers looking for more leg room will be charged an extra $160 on long-haul flights, and $80 per sector on short-haul flights to Asia and New Zealand.
The charge will net the airline more than $2500 each flight and will begin next month.
An airline spokesman said yesterday: “This will give customers greater choice and access to seats that offer more leg room.”
The move follows similar charges employed by Virgin Blue across its domestic routes.
Introduction of the fee comes at the same time the airline begins forcing its uber wealthy travellers to “slum it” in business class on selected international flights.
Qantas will cut its first-class service from 42 weekly flights because of a drop in demand caused by the financial crisis.
First to be cut back will be its 747 flights between Sydney and San Francisco and Buenos Aires and the daily service from Melbourne to London.
The 14 first-class seats will be blended into business class.
By: Rickt - 27th May 2009 at 13:59
I have to confess, this is always my concern, if somebody pays in advance and turns up on the day and is an 80-year old frail lady, what do they do then?
The cabin crew will then move her one row back and ask the person behind if suitable if they would like to sit there. Also, the old lady will not get a refund for the seat.
When booking the exit row seats, you have to agree to the T&C’s, if you dont, it states you will be seated elsewhere.
Rick
By: rdc1000 - 27th May 2009 at 07:37
Yes but sitting next to the emergency exit door over the wing… they’re expected to be capable of removing the door in times of emergency…the airlines should pay them $160 dollars
I have to confess, this is always my concern, if somebody pays in advance and turns up on the day and is an 80-year old frail lady, what do they do then?
By: steve rowell - 27th May 2009 at 01:04
It isn’t really penalizing tall people just charging more for anyone wishing to sit in the exit row. A tall person, or anyone else for that matter, can sit anywhere else without penalty.
Yes but sitting next to the emergency exit door over the wing… they’re expected to be capable of removing the door in times of emergency…the airlines should pay them $160 dollars
By: rdc1000 - 26th May 2009 at 23:07
Singapore Airlines recently introduced it as well, so in good company I guess.
By: OneLeft - 26th May 2009 at 22:47
Virgin Atlantic do it too, which was a real surprise for me.
1L.
By: Cking - 26th May 2009 at 21:36
Some charter operators have been doing it for years.
Rgds Ckings
By: Hand87_5 - 26th May 2009 at 08:23
Air France and KLM are doing the same for more than one year.
It doesn’t seem to be too successful since I got an exit seat for free on my last LAX-CDG flight. You just have to ask at the gate.
Many people are not ready to pay 75€ extra.
Shame on them!
By: Whiskey Delta - 26th May 2009 at 01:27
It isn’t really penalizing tall people just charging more for anyone wishing to sit in the exit row. A tall person, or anyone else for that matter, can sit anywhere else without penalty.
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May 26, 2009 at 1:24 am