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Midwest Death Watch: Struggling Airline Now Yanking Legroom

August 26, 2008 at 9:33 AM | 3 Comments

Midwest Airlines, once the classiest coach ride out there, will add 11 new seats to its remaining planes by October 21, a move that will no doubt result in middle seat armrest battles at the back of the carrier's 717s.

Along with the added seats comes a fee for the good ones, a move other struggling airlines have already instituted. But it's not as bad as it sounds, says the Midwest spin machine:

40 wide, two-across Signature seats will feature even more legroom than today and will be complemented by 59 newly designed Recaro Saver seats, uniquely engineered to provide maximum space between your knees and the row in front....

Travelers paying higher-value refundable fares will be assigned a Signature seat, if available, at no additional charge. Or, find the lowest available fare and secure your Signature seat for a modest fee at time of booking.

Related Stories:
· Introducing Midwest Class [Official Site]
· Midwest Death Watch: Systemwide Cuts Starting to Hurt [Jaunted]
· Airline Death Watch: Are Midwest's Cookies Endangered? [Jaunted]

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Author Photo: pbb by pbb

3 Comments

Return to » Midwest Death Watch: Struggling Airline Now Yanking Legroom

  1. knope2001

    Jaunted Member
    August 26, 2008 at 6:14 PM




    Uhhh..leg room?

    Nice try, pal, but wrong.  Legroom is increasing, not decreasing.  The first 10 rows will receive a couple of extra inches of leg room than prior.  For the rest of the airplane, because the new seats are not nearly as bulky as the old ones, the amount of useful leg room will improve as well.

    The change is the addition of a middle seat (2x3 instead of 2x2) for the back 11 rows of the aircraft.  That makes for narrower seats in back (as narrow as every other airline coach seat) but not less legroom. But why bother getting details right...you've already decided this airline is toast, right?

  1. pbb

    Jaunted Editor
    August 26, 2008 at 7:12 PM




    According to Seat Guru...

    Yes, there will be less legroom. But, no, the carrier didn't hype that in its press release about the new "choice" of seats.

    As to whether it's toast or not, the constant stream of bad news out of Milwaukee makes it hard to believe things are going well for Midwest. We'll be sad if the airline goes kaput, but that doesn't mean it's not gonna happen.

  1. midex

    Jaunted Member
    August 27, 2008 at 8:29 AM




    It's about time!

    They can't keep operating these flights at a loss.  Fill the planes.  Even with the new seats, it isn't at full capacity.  Hmmm Midwest's 99 seat airplane or AirTran's 117 seats in the same 717?  

    Off the Death Watch... seriously.  There are a lot of possibilities with the new Delta/Northwest deal.  The restructuring seems to be right on track and in many instances they are FINALLY doing what needed to be done years ago.  This dual class is a great business move.  

    I personally don't see "the constant stream of bad news."  These changes are positive!  They are keeping intact their customer minded decisions, but trying to actually turn a profit.  I am pretty sure they aren't in business for free.  What do ya think?

    What's your business background, btw?    

Return to » Midwest Death Watch: Struggling Airline Now Yanking Legroom

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