NWA to Charge for Exit Row Seating

[Paul]

Just one week after Northwest Airlines set off a major customer-service uproar by unveiling a new $15 fee for aisle and exit-row seats, the airline says the response from customers has been better than anticipated.

Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said demand for the seats was growing and after one week, sales are "running ahead of expectations." He declined to offer specifics on how many seats were sold.

Whether Northwest -- which is in bankruptcy protection -- makes the test program permanent, Ebenhoch says, depends on customer response. "We're listening to their feedback," he said.

The airline's newest revenue-enhancer is primarily aimed at passengers who prefer comfort over price. And although Northwest says it is pleased with the response thus far, some of those passengers -- business travelers, that is -- continue to voice their ire through other channels.

Some frequent fliers said they would rather see Northwest raise all ticket prices by $5 or $10, rather than charge a fee for a coach seat. "I am totally for raising fares a few bucks per passenger. Instead, we're getting fee'd to death," said Red Cross manager Michael Fazzino, a top Northwest frequent flier who racks up about 70,000 miles a year.

WashingtonPost

 

[CSAR GYRENE]

Here's the new one going around.
😀
(Northwest flight attendant holding oxygen mask)
"In the event of a loss of cabin pressure, insert your coins in the slot directly above your head. Please make sure you have correct change".

Now thats funny as hell!

 

[Justme]

Airline fees? The sky's the limit
By Jeff Bernhardt, JEFF BERNHARDT is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.
March 22, 2006


NORTHWEST AIRLINES has just begun testing a program to charge domestic coach passengers $15 extra to book aisle and exit-row seats. (It joins Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada, which have similar fees). It's the latest in a string of recent airline fees-for-service, such as fees for boxed meals and fees for booking by phone (versus online).

In light of this, here are some possible fees to which airline passengers may be subject in the near future:

ADVERTISEMENT
• $15 fee for a window seat on flights to certain locations (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico). There are discounts if you are willing to book a window for flights into Newark or Detroit.

• $15 fee for requesting a seat two or more rows from children under the age of 5; a $25 fee for booking a seat more than five rows from children under the age of 2.

• $15 fee for every time you ring the call service button more than once. If you anticipate that you will be a high-maintenance flier, you can purchase call service coupons ahead of time on the Internet for $5 per coupon (purchasing by phone will involve an additional, yet-undisclosed, fee).

• $25 fee to request a seat next to a passenger who is willing to not use your armrest or not mind your leg kicking the back of his or her seat. (This must be requested at least 36 hours prior to flight.)

• $25 fee to sit next to a passenger who is height/weight proportionate to his seat. (This also must be requested 36 hours prior to flight time).

• $15 fee for using the overhead compartment. If you wish to use the overhead compartment directly above your seat (as opposed to random assignment by flight crew), this must be requested online 24 hours prior to flight departure. Requests by phone will require an additional personal-attention fee of $5.

• Please be aware that there will henceforth be a fee for using the toilets onboard; $1 tokens can be purchased from the flight attendants prior to takeoff.

As the airlines say: "Thank you for flying with us. We wish you a safe and enjoyable flight."

 

[jenny@nw]

Airline fees? The sky's the limit
By Jeff Bernhardt, JEFF BERNHARDT is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.
March 22, 2006
NORTHWEST AIRLINES has just begun testing a program to charge domestic coach passengers $15 extra to book aisle and exit-row seats. (It joins Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada, which have similar fees). It's the latest in a string of recent airline fees-for-service, such as fees for boxed meals and fees for booking by phone (versus online).

In light of this, here are some possible fees to which airline passengers may be subject in the near future:

ADVERTISEMENT
• $15 fee for a window seat on flights to certain locations (including Hawaii and Puerto Rico). There are discounts if you are willing to book a window for flights into Newark or Detroit.

• $15 fee for requesting a seat two or more rows from children under the age of 5; a $25 fee for booking a seat more than five rows from children under the age of 2.

• $15 fee for every time you ring the call service button more than once. If you anticipate that you will be a high-maintenance flier, you can purchase call service coupons ahead of time on the Internet for $5 per coupon (purchasing by phone will involve an additional, yet-undisclosed, fee).

• $25 fee to request a seat next to a passenger who is willing to not use your armrest or not mind your leg kicking the back of his or her seat. (This must be requested at least 36 hours prior to flight.)

• $25 fee to sit next to a passenger who is height/weight proportionate to his seat. (This also must be requested 36 hours prior to flight time).

• $15 fee for using the overhead compartment. If you wish to use the overhead compartment directly above your seat (as opposed to random assignment by flight crew), this must be requested online 24 hours prior to flight departure. Requests by phone will require an additional personal-attention fee of $5.

• Please be aware that there will henceforth be a fee for using the toilets onboard; $1 tokens can be purchased from the flight attendants prior to takeoff.

As the airlines say: "Thank you for flying with us. We wish you a safe and enjoyable flight."

I really think this is a huge rip off and I hope Dougie and his pals get what's comming to them. They really ruined this airline. Interior is dirty, everyone's work attitude is bad, people don't know what they are doing...
we lack food on some routes yet other airlines have them...
ect. ect. ect.

 

[finman]

Finally, a sensible article about the Coach Choice program.
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2006/03/choice.html

 

[RGM7]

Finally, a sensible article about the Coach Choice program.
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2006/03/choice.html

good article....i wish i had $15 for everytime i gave somebody an exit row seat

 

[groundcontrol]

good article....i wish i had $15 for everytime i gave somebody an exit row seat

all I see is $25.00 worth of aggrevation over a $15.00 seat. I guess thats just the NEW NW way. More work and problems for the F/A's and CSR's and LESS pay.

 

[CSAR GYRENE]

Well no, sir. We only tell you that in the case of an emergency, you might be called upon to operate the exit. If you don't want to, you don't have to.

In training, we cover the scenario where we instruct someone to do something during an emergency and they refuse or don't follow instructions after saying they will. We just get another volunteer and keep the line moving.

I often wonder what most people sitting in those exit seats would REALLY do in the event of emergency. its an interesting study in human nature, to say the least.

 

[jenny@nw]

I often wonder what most people sitting in those exit seats would REALLY do in the event of emergency. its an interesting study in human nature, to say the least.

One time this happened... after I was briefed, I went back to my jumpseat to go over our emergency situation/commands/jobs with our pax...they all convienently dissapeared. <_<

 

[CSAR GYRENE]

One time this happened... after I was briefed, I went back to my jumpseat to go over our emergency situation/commands/jobs with our pax...they all convienently dissapeared. <_<

Kinda scary when ya think about it, huh? For what its worth, despite all the jokes I tell about F/A's, I do respect you guys. When the feces makes contact with the rotating air displacement unit, it's the f/a's that have to safely get 100 or so screaming irrational panic stricken knuckleheads out safely. I've done enough EGRESS training over the years to know what a difficult pain in the a$$ that is. Kep up the good work, and please dont get offended the next time ya hear someone say "did ya hear the one about the blonde flight attendent......?"

 

[hp_fa]

I often wonder what most people sitting in those exit seats would REALLY do in the event of emergency. its an interesting study in human nature, to say the least.

One of three things:

1. Open the door and leave right away;
2. Go into silent panic (which is really dangerous for everyone);
3. Do as the FA's instructed.

My guess is that 60% do option 1, 5-10% do option 2 and the rest do option 3.