US Airways Move Could
Squeeze Out Upgrades
US Airways is considering eliminating 10 seats in the first-class sections on its transcontinental flights, which would make premium seating harder to get through frequent-flier upgrades.
The changes would most affect the carrier's Airbus A321 aircraft that operate not only on transcontinental flights but up and down the East Coast. Under the proposal, the number of first-class seats would drop to 16 from 26. The move could mean that business travelers will more often have to buy first-class tickets to get a seat in the front, instead of paying for a coach ticket and using frequent-flier miles to upgrade.
The airline plans to make a decision by the first quarter of next year.
Separate from that decision, US Airways plans this fall to add six more seats -- another row -- to its coach cabin on its A319s. That will reduce the average seat pitch, or legroom, by an inch or so to 31 to 32 inches from 31 to 33 inches. US Airways will get space for the added row by removing a closet used to store the aircraft's video equipment. No changes in the first-class cabin of the A319s are planned. But the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline will begin removing four first-class seats on its A320s by the fourth quarter, reducing the number to 12 from 16. The carrier said it doesn't plan any changes to its A320 coach cabin.
Washington Post Article
Squeeze Out Upgrades
US Airways is considering eliminating 10 seats in the first-class sections on its transcontinental flights, which would make premium seating harder to get through frequent-flier upgrades.
The changes would most affect the carrier's Airbus A321 aircraft that operate not only on transcontinental flights but up and down the East Coast. Under the proposal, the number of first-class seats would drop to 16 from 26. The move could mean that business travelers will more often have to buy first-class tickets to get a seat in the front, instead of paying for a coach ticket and using frequent-flier miles to upgrade.
The airline plans to make a decision by the first quarter of next year.
Separate from that decision, US Airways plans this fall to add six more seats -- another row -- to its coach cabin on its A319s. That will reduce the average seat pitch, or legroom, by an inch or so to 31 to 32 inches from 31 to 33 inches. US Airways will get space for the added row by removing a closet used to store the aircraft's video equipment. No changes in the first-class cabin of the A319s are planned. But the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline will begin removing four first-class seats on its A320s by the fourth quarter, reducing the number to 12 from 16. The carrier said it doesn't plan any changes to its A320 coach cabin.
Washington Post Article