Thoughts on AAs Rumored Exit Row Charge
 

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513250

Summary: AA Rumored to be thinking of charging $75 for the priveledge of an exit row seat ...

The AA folks are in an uproar over this but I thought I would see what the DL folks thought since I spend equal time on both metals any more ...

Would you be willing to pay a fee to be allowed to sit in an exit row if it could help DL to clear bankruptcy? Ever?

This sounds unusually similar to the NW idea floating around, and if so, DL may be considering it also..

But I'm not sure its applicable to this forum yet as nothing has surfaced r.e aisle/exit row charges from DL yet...

Because this issue involves multiple airlines (but not Delta Air Lines — at least, not yet), the new home of this thread is the TravelBuzz! forum.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta forum

WHAT A CROCK OF $#|T!!! DL and CO (not sure about NW) currently allow Platinum members to grab these seats at time of booking. CHARGING for them would be HORRIBLE PR. Especially on RJ flights where there is no F cabin to which to upgrade.

Why is the new business model of "legacy" carrier to annoy their customers?

$3 for a snack box?
$1 for a soda
$15 for a "comfort kit" that includes a blanket and pillow
$75 to sit in the exit row
$2 to check your luggage with a skycap?
$5 to talk to a real person when you book your ticket
$2 for headphones to listen to our crappy IFE system

-or-

book with a newer airline, pay less, get better -free- IFE

Here's a novel idea, why not improve your product so more people what to fly you?

Do we get to charge them if we have to perform the exit row duties? At least a refund of the surcharge?

Amazing.

Once again the "full service" legacy airlines are seeking to provide worse service at a higher cost than the "no frills" low cost carriers. JetBlue already offers more legroom in the rear 2/3rds of each of its planes than AA does in coach. :rolleyes:

What happens when someone books an exit row seat, pays for it, and then when they either arrive at the airport or get on the plane, it's determined that they can't be allowed to sit there for whatever reason? That should be fun...... :rolleyes:

Sadly Virgin already charge £50 for an exit row seat

I can hear the chatter in the board room now... all talk of ways to increase revenue and no talk about improving service. These are the same people that have convinced stock holders, judges, and unions that the executives "must be over-compensated in order to keep the 'talent'". How can these people claim "talent" when they have failed for over a decade to look at the profitable airlines and notice that they do not have as many 7 figure execs.

There is only one profitable airline, and it is Southwest. It is arguably only profitable now due to its fuel hedges. Every other airline, not just legacy carriers, are swimming in red ink and most are in or recently have been in bankruptcy. While I don't agree that nickel and diming customers is a good long-term strategy, I can't buy into all the AA management bashing that goes on either. Further, if you think the company is run by a bunch of yahoos now, just what do you suppose would happen if they decided competitive compensation wasn't necessary? And, comparing management at Southwest and AA is apples and oranges. Southwest is only in its first generation after the founder and is still run by that same core group of insiders. It's just a matter of time before their size outgrows their talent pool and they start looking like everyone else.

Also, JetBlue has a crappy schedule to most destinations, doesn't have first and doesn't fly anywhere outside the US. Oh yeah, and they are currently getting their a$$e$ handed to them by the same industry conditions that are impacting AA.