CO doesn't have enough first seats in its system, slowly they are attempting to add a couple here and there... Of course there are several routes (like SFO-EWR) that are very hard to buy F seats within a week of the flight.

I might add that this policy might make it... more undesirable for CO elites to fly on NW anyways...

B

as someone else said, just raise the F'in Fare

Not True
 

Certain bulkhead seats are taken. I'm in one for an upcoming flight (5D) this weekend. I called and was told I had to pay $15 24hrs out or they would bump me from the seat that I've had for 85 days! Hope I get upgraded or I'm back in 17E :mad:

While technically true...NW actually does plat EAU in advance of unlike CO. Therefore, NW plats will be in FC 90-95% of the time prior to 36 hours out so not an issue for plats. I prefer the bulkhead anyway...

Don't be surpised if CO follows suit. Or maybe they'll take that CO apporach and dole out exit rows by staus and fare, which is basically the same thing and in fcat would yield more then $15 per seg.

and what exactly would that be...? Your often the first to defend CO's right to generate more inclome and charge for services...These seems logical as the exit rows are a perceived better value and therefore must be worth more.

The image CO would like to project is one of profit making to its shareholders.

The fact is CO would have more difficulty doing this then NW because FF benefits have diminished more at CO then NW. NW gets their plats into FC or gives them 1,000 miles. CO holds back till last possible moment and then has fewer FC seats to give. Take away exits and elite is virtually worthless on CO.

It seems to me Continental tries to offer the best value - offer the little things that do cost, but the benefit out weighs the cost. Pillows and Blankets, "Meals" at Meal Times, IFE Domestically - are all things Continental has to pay for, but they see as a good value. Charging for "Choice Economy Seats" does not seem to fit in with this idea. Continental seems to be trying to maintain the image of a full service airline and it shows - someone told me when they were talking to some older lady about Continental she said "yea and they feed you too" people are noticing - its just a matter of time t'ill people get REALLY feed up with all the nickel and diming.


-Vincent

I don't think CO will follow suit either. At the 'DO, LK and JS repeatedly emphsized they want to offer consistent product to its customers. That's why they rejected UA's E+ idea, which created 4 classes of seats on some planes. While not the same, what NW's doing has some resemblence of creating a subclass of seats. And that's exactly what LK said they would try to avoid.

You're still thinking inside the box. The Plat buys it for $15 at booking, then gets upgraded at 5 days. The Gold buys it for $15 at 5 days but gets upgraded at 3 days. The Silver buys it at 3 days but gets upgraded at 1 day. The non-elite buys it at 1 day. That $60 for the same seat.

Steve B.

Except that Elites can't buy seats until 36 hrs before the flight...

Fee is waived for Plats

Uncle!
 

Uncle, I give up, I surrender ... please stop beating me over the head.

I'm just going to have to switch FF programs from NW to OP. I just wanted to ask if there are any special bonuses for signing up for OP ... I did a search but I didn't find anything.

Thank you in advance for any input you can give me.

Where did you get this information? Everything I've seen -- including the dummy reservations that I have made on nwa.com while logged in as a Platinum elite -- demonstrate that we Platinums are not exempt from the "Coach Choice" charge.

And non-elites can?

What're the transaction costs going to add up to? How about the delays while people ponder yet another transaction during checkin? I guess the kiosks will come in handy. How about bumps and reroutes?

I am more concerned about the safety issue than anything. Those exit row seats are not there for comfort (but man are they), they are there for safety allowing enough room/speed to exit in the slim chance they are needed. The person in that row has a responsibility. By charging you open yourself up to what was stated earlier, what happens if the person who paid the $15 is not qualified? Who will police this? By charging for these, the airline has fundamentally changed the role of these seats from safety to a perk. Does this make a difference? I am not sure. Ive seen too many people sitting in those seats who may be legally qualified, but knew after watching them struggle to lift their own carry on that those were not the people I want ensuring I get out. This policy probably won't make a difference to who is sitting there but I wish the airlines would consider tougher restrictions for who should be sitting next to that escape hatch.