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How Much is Seven Extra Inches of Legroom on Continental Worth to You?

March 5, 2010 at 8:34 AM | by | Comment (1)

The money streaming in from baggage fees is spoiling the airlines rotten. So while millions upon millions of fresh greenbacks come over the check-in counter as passengers get caught by the new fees, the airlines continue to look for more ways to make an extra buck. And although Continental is keeping their free meals in economy for now, they will be charging additional now for something they never have before: seats with more legroom.

It's a very low-cost-carrier move, one that airlines like Jetblue and Virgin America can get away with, but Continental? Times—they are a-changing! Or they will be beginning on March 17 when Continental offers up unreserved coach seats with more legroom with more cash at check-in. A quick visit to SeatGuru.com should tip you off as to which seats will get the $$ treatment or not (hint: definitely the ones highlighted in green), and in some cases, we're talking up to seven extra inches of legroom.

The premium coach seats—since that's what they really are—will go on sale as upgrades 24 hours before the flight, available if you check-in on Continental.com or at the airport, based on availability. Price will be determined by flight length, of course.

Related Stories:
· Continental Airlines to Sell Seat Assignments [ATTips]
· Continental Airlines News [Jaunted]
· Airline News [Jaunted]

[Images: SeatGuru]

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Selling your safety

In a highly-capitalist way, I can understand airlines' moves to charge more for window and aisle seats (as they're clearly worth more than being stuck between two strangers for a long flight), but something about charging for the exit row seats just doesn't sit well with me. After all, the exit row is a matter of safety.  As someone who struggles to do a few push-ups, I've felt a bit guilty sitting in the exit row, and wondered if I would really be able to manage to toss the emergency door out of the plane in an emergency. I know that everyone considers the exit row a premium seat, but it makes me wonder if the guy who shells out the extra cash to sit there really has the best interests of a planeload of passengers in mind. (However, I'm all for allocating them to frequent flyers, who presumably would have spent more time on an airplane and might hopefully be more calm/efficient in an emergency.)
kaisatsu2 on March 9, 2010 at 5:57 PM #Permalink

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