That will be £15 for the window seat sir
By Darren Cronian on Thursday, April 24th, 2008

I was quite shocked to read that US Airlines are looking to charge passengers for window and aisle seats. Also when airlines allow phones in flight, you can pay extra for a seat in the quiet zone. The cost will be between £3 and £15 per flight. Oh my god, this is ridiculous.

That will be £15 for the window seat sir

What’s next?

Charging me to go to the toilet. It’s bad enough that they charge you for the headphones, and look pretty miffed when you show them that you have brought your own. I realise airlines are under pressure to make a profit, but charging for a window or aisle seat or paying to fly in a quiet zone is just beyond stupidity.

Would you pay extra for a window aisle seat or to sit in a quiet zone.


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12 responses to “That will be £15 for the window seat sir”

Dean Oliver | 24 April, 2008 at 11:41 am

Hi Darren

I’ve also made a similar post on my blog, mostly about the increased expectation from travellers that they are entitled to cheap air flight vs the need for airlines to make a revenue per seat that is profitable.
You only have to look at the recent airline collapses (Oasis, Frontier, Aloha, ATA etc) to see how times will be tough for the airlines.
Whilst it’s easy to seek cheaper and cheaper tickets, the airlines still need to be profitable, yet so many of their costs are rising, fuel, landing charges, wages etc
So although I don’t fully support the “unbundling” of travel products like checking in bags, legroom seats, meals etc, you have to seem them as almost inevitable as airlines try to maintain a seat yield.
After all Ryanair operate a successful business model which unbundles nearly everything.

As someone in the trade, the feeling is that this will become more and more the norm, as companies seek to derive more yield per passenger, and may spread more into other areas like hotels, cruises etc

Nomadic Matt | 24 April, 2008 at 4:05 pm

I wouldn’t pay extra for a window seat or a quiet area….i just don’t think its worth extra cash…

Karen Bryan | 24 April, 2008 at 4:19 pm

If no-one pays up for aisle and window seats then it will all backfire. I must say I don’t like being in the middle seat but wouldn’t want to pay extra to avoid this. Fortunately most of my fights are only a couple of hours.

Jim | 25 April, 2008 at 1:22 am

Not a comment but a question.

If no one is willing to pay for window or aisle seats what will they do then, leave these seats vacant?

Jason McIntyre | 25 April, 2008 at 8:40 pm

I prefer a window seat but I am not willing to pay for it.

I agree with Karen, if no one pays for the seat then the money grabbing idea will fail.

It is in the hands of the passengers.

Rohan | 25 April, 2008 at 8:47 pm

The airlines can take a running jump if they think that I am going to pay for a window seat.

Darren Cronian | 25 April, 2008 at 11:30 pm

@ Jim

I don’t think they will have any choice but to leave them vacant.

@ Jason

True, but I think that passengers will pay it if they feel more comfortable with a window seat. What are they charging for though, you don’t get more room, and the views of erm clouds.

@ Rohan

Well let’s hope more passengers have the same opinion as you.

Jim | 26 April, 2008 at 1:04 am

Some people will pay the extra charge for a window seat no matter the cost (well up to a point). But if up to 50% of those seats went unoccupied could that make a difference?

Nick | 26 April, 2008 at 11:09 am

Darren,

The UK charter airlines brought these charges in a few years ago. Take up is small but for people who want a certain seat they are prepared to pay for it.

Darren Cronian | 26 April, 2008 at 4:36 pm

@ Nick

Really, I never knew that. Interesting that the take up is small. This might sound like a silly question (it probably is) but if no one takes up the seats doesn’t that affect the balance of the weight or balance of the flight?

@ Jim

I think if passengers said no with their wallets then they will have no choice but to go back to free window and aisle seats. We’ll see if it becomes the norm.

Alastair James | 28 April, 2008 at 10:08 am

I cant see myself paying for a window or aisle seat, but I foresee mobile phones on flights being so annoying that I might pay for the quite zone!

Why dont they make people pay to go in the phones allowed zone? That makes much more sense!

Darren Cronian | 28 April, 2008 at 5:45 pm

@ Alastair

Good idea about a mobile phone zone, and paying for it. I’m not sure if I would pay for a window seat, I must admit I prefer to sit near the window, but if we start to pay for all these extras when will it end?

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