United's Upgrades, Northwest's Downgrades, JetBlue's Downturn
Have a seat: Disagreement on how best to coddle your backside while separating you from your money is rampant these days.
A minor kerfluffle has erupted over United's recent move to upgrade their first class seats into lie-flat models at the cost of $165 million dollars. Why not spend that money on making coach more bearable? Or improve first's amenities, instead of focusing on the seats?
Meanwhile, Northwest unveiled their plans to charge $15 for the better seats in coach (read: the exit row) to try and generate a little more revenue from the back of the plane. We understand their reasoning, and this move is more democratic than giving it the elite frequent fliers, but it still comes off as sleazy.
JetBlue, the only domestic carrier that offers extra legroom (in their single class airplanes) lost money last quarter and predicts a loss for 2006, though they claim it's from higher fuel costs and increased competition. Maybe making the passengers comfortable and happy is not the best way to turn a profit.
Where does this leave domestic carriers? If they think the money is to be made with better seats up front and by nickel-and-diming consumers in back, fine; it's just the continuation of the sky-bus business model they've been hawking the last fifteen years.
Jaunted's not greedy about legroom, but we're tall here, so we do treasure the space. Is it so much to ask? We don't care about the peanuts or pillows, but deep-vein thrombosis is awfully bothersome.
[Image via ohad*/Flickr]
Related Stories:
· United Puts the Squeeze on Steerage [Gridskipper]
· Spending More Money on Seats [View From the Wing]
· Northwest Charges Extra for Seats [USA Today]
· Grim View at JetBlue [TheStreet]
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