Travel News - USA Today: The next airline fee: Paying more to get off a plane faster?

The next airline fee: Paying more to get off a plane faster? (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-07-07/The-next-airline-fee-Paying-more-to-get-off-a-plane-faster/56073708/1)
Some fliers would pay if it could get them off the plane faster.

That's according to a survey by Airfarewatchdog.com, a fare-tracking site that found 16% of respondents were willing to pay to be at the front of the line when their flight lands. Of that group, 10% would pay $10 and 3% would pay as much as $20.

When I read this, I can't help but think of all the times in ATL that the FAs ask those who don't have a tight connection to remain seated. Of course, when the seatbelt sign turns off, everyone rushes the aisle regardless of the announcement.

Why not charge pax to be among the medallions who are pissed that no one listens to the FAs about remaining seated? Sounds like a great idea to me! :rolleyes:

Looks pretty reasonable to me. At some point those with no status will just pay more for all the perks those with status already have. This is called "paid F" and we are already seeing those fares drop (or rather, UP) at least until minutes before the door closes. Once we are reduced to a single US-flagged carrier the problem will cease to exist because status will also cease. And I will start traveling by ship or wagon train......

The next airline fee: Paying more to get off a plane faster? (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/story/2012-07-07/The-next-airline-fee-Paying-more-to-get-off-a-plane-faster/56073708/1)

When I read this, I can't help but think of all the times in ATL that the FAs ask those who don't have a tight connection to remain seated. Of course, when the seatbelt sign turns off, everyone rushes the aisle regardless of the announcement.

Why not charge pax to be among the medallions who are pissed that no one listens to the FAs about remaining seated? Sounds like a great idea to me! :rolleyes:I just don't see how this would work. Since it's after the flight, if someone who hasn't paid decides to stand up and cut these paying folks off, and tells them to stick their paid fee where the sun doesn't shine, what's going to happen next?

I just don't see how this would work. Since it's after the flight, if someone who hasn't paid decides to stand up and cut these paying folks off, and tells them to stick their paid fee where the sun doesn't shine, what's going to happen next?

I would pay....

to see that.

Can not see how they could make this work, even if they hold the seats right behind 1st class for these passengers. Oh, wait some airlines are already charging for these seats, which give you the opportunity to get off earlier. But of course that is not a guarantee since some behind them make make it to the aisle first.
dumb idea dumb article

I read this and wondered how it would be policed/enforced? However, given the size of some FAs, they could probably block an aisle.

I'm guessing it is either:

a. Sitting at the front of the plane OR
b. FAA guidelines: if they get off when they shouldn't, throw the offenders to the cops by taking advantage of the flight attendant orders clause.

I too am sceptical about how it could be made to work.. at least very well...

..but I am interested in how often that "please stay seated while.." announcement is made.

I have only heard it ONCE.. and it was in relation to a family that was looking at a very fast run to their next departure gate.. the FA gave enough detail (about WHY these folks were in that position - previous flight delay apparently) that it sounded "fair dinkum" to me...and clearly to those around me as well...

I know that because when the seat belt sign went off... and a minority of (selfish?) folks ignored the request and got up and blocked the aisle so that the family couldn't get through... a whole bunch of folks started berating them for doing so... self included.

They got out of the way pretty quickly after that..^

The family looked totally flustered (understandable) and embarrased... thanking everyone as they went... and received a great many good wishes in return.

MOST folks are decent after all.....

They already have this. It's called First Class, Economy Comfort, and Preferred Seats, in decreasing order of how badly you want to be the first one off, and priced accordingly.

They already have this. It's called First Class, Economy Comfort, and Preferred Seats, in decreasing order of how badly you want to be the first one off, and priced accordingly.

I always get off the plane first. It was so easy for me. I didn't want to wait for any much longer.

The new home for this discussion is now the Travel News forum, as this topic has little to do with Delta Air Lines or the SkyMiles frequent flier loyalty program.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta SkyMiles forum

Airlines already do this by charging more for the seats in the front of the cabin. It's just a new way to market them to people.

The story is based on an airfarewatchdog survey, not in any reality. Just because some people clicked they would pay $10 for the seat (which given the airline already charges way more than that in many cases for those seats) near the door doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

Airlines already do this by charging more for the seats in the front of the cabin. It's just a new way to market them to people.

The story is based on an airfarewatchdog survey, not in any reality. Just because some people clicked they would pay $10 for the seat (which given the airline already charges way more than that in many cases for those seats) near the door doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

Or maybe, just maybe, the airlines could further price discriminate the remaining coach seats and tack on a charge for selecting a seat that is "closer" to the door [as opposed to taking the luck of the draw assignment at the gate]. I am sure "families" and others that wanted to sit together would find themselves paying to ensure they sit together even if they were not particularly concerned with how fast they got off the plane.

Future onboard announcement:

"Welcome to [airport name]. Once we arrive at the gate, your seatbelts will unlock in your priority exit order. Do not attempt to pull or tug on the belt, as they may jam and you will be further delayed. In your future travels, please consider upgrading to our priority exit service. Now sit back and relax as the captain pulls our aircraft to the gate."

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How much would you pay to not have USA Today forced upon us as a source of news.
I don' t see hoe it would work, unless FAs havw tasers and are sharp shooters.
It makes sense to disembark in tje order of row numbers. Low numbers are already preferred and cost more.

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May be the airlnes are planning to sell middle seats in tje fiest few rows of economy cabin as prieiry disemnarkation seats. :D

They can sell window and aise seats. Middle seats are a jard sell.

How long before Spirit charges a deplaning fee?

How much would you pay to not have USA Today forced upon us as a source of news..

This newspaper falls somewhere between a broadsheet and a tabloid. If you look hard enough, you can find a quotable source no matter how ridiculous their opinion may be. I fault the newspaper for stooping to their normal low.

This is not about offering a specific product, simply a suggestion that it's a factor which pax would consider in paying more for a seat. Don't kind yourself, I'm sure it's been researched as part of the marketing of whatever the brand of premium seats in Y is.

Good example, if you're 5'7", who cares if your on UA in E+? The hard product won't make any difference. But, if you're in an aisle in the first few roads of Y, you may have a better chance on a short connection and might pay for that.

Or, there's back in the day when a FA would block Y pax from exiting until F had deplaned on a 757.

How long before Spirit charges a deplaning fee?

:D :D

Agreed that a deplaning fee wouldn't work too well in practice, but I think that some procedures could be done to make deplaning faster. For example, why not let people with aisle seats get their bags and deplane first, rather than have the common etiquette of having each row wait until everyone in the immediately prior row has gotten up and is walking off? Or let the people who are first to stand up (usually Type As who will rush off the plane) also be the first to deplane? Airlines don't board by rows any more (usually), and they shouldn't deplane by rows, either.

Agreed that a deplaning fee wouldn't work too well in practice, but I think that some procedures could be done to make deplaning faster. For example, why not let people with aisle seats get their bags and deplane first, rather than have the common etiquette of having each row wait until everyone in the immediately prior row has gotten up and is walking off? Or let the people who are first to stand up (usually Type As who will rush off the plane) also be the first to deplane? Airlines don't board by rows any more (usually), and they shouldn't deplane by rows, either.

And how will that be enforced? You brought up a good concept, etiquette. If people follow the etiquette, whatever it maybe,it will work. The problem arises because some people don't. People whose bags are in a row ahead, try to jump ahead, some do it just because. Commonsense and consideration goers a long way. In a suburban train arriving at the terminus, it makes more sense to allow standing passengers to get off the rain instead of disembarking row by row.

This newspaper falls somewhere between a broadsheet and a tabloid. If you look hard enough, you can find a quotable source no matter how ridiculous their opinion may be. I fault the newspaper for stooping to their normal low.

I think it's a terrible waste of paper. It does not serve my needs of a newspaper at all.

General discussions of the worth and reliability, etc., of any particular news venue are for a different thread, perhaps in OMNI. Thanks.

cblaisd
Moderator, Travel News

Great idea, but there is no way this can be accomplished. How would someone in the back of the plane, who paid money to get off first, make it up the isle? It would take forever with people getting up and getting their bags. Just won't work.

Future onboard announcement:

"Welcome to [airport name]. Once we arrive at the gate, your seatbelts will unlock in your priority exit order. Do not attempt to pull or tug on the belt, as they may jam and you will be further delayed. In your future travels, please consider upgrading to our priority exit service. Now sit back and relax as the captain pulls our aircraft to the gate."
The latest safety requirements dictate that in the interest of safety, your seat belt must remained locked during the last 30 minutes before you are authorised to unlock them. It's aginst FAA regulations to unlock your seat belt unless you are given the go ahead to unlock it,
If you try to unlock your seat belt before it's time, the pilot will immediately lock all the seat belts and take off. The Department of Homeland Security will be alerted. TO assess the threat posed by the breach of security. The aircraft will circle as long as it takes to evacuate the aircraft to another aircraft that will dock with it in the safety of our skies under the watch of USAF. Evacuation will take according to the priority system in place.

Do you feel better? :D

Agree with many on here. If FA's and GA's aren't going to enforce carry on bag limits, which would be VERY simple to do, how is enforcing something like this even possible?

I also heard that they will be charging extra to use the restrooms and you will need to insert money to use the upper baggage compartments.