Increasingly with co-pays and higher level mileage awards more and more travelers claim to be giving up on frequent flier programs, or at least say they are less wed to one carrier or another.
Yes, there are still very real perks for loyalty in the airline business. Even travelers who are frustrated with their inability to redeem awards, still enjoy free baggage allowances, priority boarding, and preferred seat assignments.
But even those perks aren’t what they used to be. I work near a United hub, so I see the problems with that carrier most frequently. The carrier sells many of their elite benefits on a one-time or yearly basis, which means priority lines can be as long or longer than the regular lines, and available “economy plus” seat assignments can be scarcer than on-time flights in a blizzard.
Though to be fair, my sense is, this happens with other carriers as well. There are so many people who will do anything avoid being stuck in the back in a middle seat, that prized seat assignments are one of the airlines’ most salable assets.
And of those prized seats, none are more prized than exit rows. Although regular travelers know they are generally unattainable except for elite fliers, I would estimate almost half of occasional travelers ask if I can assign them such a seat. Which isn’t normally possible.
Now Continental, which has been saving the seats for their higher level elite members (Gold and Platinum), AND sometimes VIP clients of preferred agencies, is changing the rules. The exit row will now be for sale.
For their lower level elite fliers (Silver), the airline says there will be “option to select the seat free of charge” at check-in — if it’s available. Which is about as likely as finding mileage award tickets to Hawaii at Christmas.
And for that matter, Gold and Platinum members, who have been accustomed to finding exit row seats available in advance, may also be disappointed as well, because it won’t take many people deciding to pay extra for the exit row to fill up the one or two rows per plane.
There’s another lurking question too. What happens if someone pays for an exit row who isn’t qualified. I routinely also have passengers traveling with babies ask for the exit row for the space. Or passengers who say something like “I have a bad leg or I just had surgery so I need the room.”
Any of those passengers would be moved at the airport, but would they get their money back.
In any case, it will be an interesting question to see what happens with the new Continental policy. Will the extra revenue offset the unhappy elite fliers?
United, which is the biggest seller of legroom with their economy plus, still keeps exit rows for their highest elite fliers. And actually, it makes a huge difference for those in the Executive Premier and 1k categories. Within a few weeks of departure often those are the only economy plus seats left on the plane.
Time will tell. If Continental’s Platinum and Gold are angry enough call, write and email their complaints and threats not to fly to the airline pooh-bahs, maybe they will change their policy. If not, expect other airlines to soon follow suit.
Photo: Qantas
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
Over the past 20+ years of flying, I’ve noticed an alarming trend in exit row seating… Fewer and fewer people are actually “qualified” to sit there, but they still get to do so.
I’ve been on a plane with babies in the exit row. I’ve been on a plane where the frail little old lady is sitting right next to the emergency window exit with her hearing aids–and who probably couldn’t lift the 40+ pound exit out of the way–since she couldn’t even lift her small duffel bag to the overhead bin. I’ve been on planes where people sitting in the exit row couldn’t understand English. I’ve even been on an airplane before where a blind man with a broken leg was seated in the exit row!
Maybe we should institute ‘classes’ for the Exit Row–take a 4- or 8-hour class to teach us how to do things, make sure we can lift that exit, show us what it’ll do when we actually inflate that exit slide or exit “lifeboat” on the way out the door… I, for one, would actually be willing to pay for the class myself… (I was a Firefighter/EMT for over 10 years–I _want_ to be prepared in case of emergency!)..
As someone who could never achieve top status in the elite programs (and always had to work to retain one of the lower levels), I realized a couple years ago that the elite programs had become more and more like the miles you earn – not very useful and no longer an incentive.
I don’t really mind the airlines getting value out of a saleable commodity like the better seats. I expect to pay more if I get a better seat at a concert or sports event too. i do join those who are saying that if safety is an issue for exit row seats (and it is), they need to be sure those seats are filled by qualified people, not just someone who would be willing to pay extra.
Boy, is this story full of half-truths and bias! Here’s the real story: When you check-in, and ONLY when you check in (w/in 24 hours of flight time), if there are still ER seats available, you can buy them. Elite level flyers can still book them at the time of reservation at no charge. If you buy the seat, but then are asked to move by staff, your refund will be automatically processed (based on the issuance of a new boarding pass). If you are asked to move once on the plane, but don’t get a new boarding pass, you can request a refund.
I don’t see how this dilutes elite seating perks….most of us reserve our seats when we make our reservations, not when we check-in. Unless you are on a last minute flight, you still have a better shot than non-elites at preferred seating.
Anne, appreciate the comment, but this story comes from a fax Continental sent to travel agents last week on a major CHANGE in their policy. This has been the case,but now anyone can buy the exit row seat, 331 days in advance, at the time of booking. It’s good that they will automatically refund if they move you but personally I don’t like the advance purchase aspect of it. Many of my elite travelers clients book within a month of travel. And I do think it means occasional travelers are likely now to snap up those prime seats.
In the case of United, the exit rows are the only thing they don’t sell, yet…but Economy Plus prize seats are gone on prime flights more often than not because they sell them.
@ Drew:
I really doubt you have seen babies and blind men with broken legs in an exit row. These things are against the law, and your examples are so extreme as to be laughable. You would be calling the flight attendants criminally negligent, and your comments are so far off base to make your point it is ludicrous. On EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT, the door to an aircraft cannot be closed until a flight attendant has checked each and every passenger seated in an exit row to ensure they meet the appropriate legal standards.
@ Janice:
I think it is laughable all the people who attempt to gain exit row seating by saying things like they have a bad back/leg/etc and require the space or bring “doctor’s notes.” They backpedal quite quickly when they are informed that they really shouldn’t be seated there if they have some type of physical ailment. It is amazing how much faster they get better!
Continental joins other carriers in diluting elite seating perks.
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And, what’s the percentage of elites who usually fly in first or business class with their status? This allows the carrier, remember, they are a business who generate MORE revenue and allows someone who is tall and there’s many passengers over 6 FEET who should have the opportunity to purchase more legroom.
On weekends, I see the average Joe traveler in the exit row seats. They ARE attainable to those who seek them out. And, as mentioned, MANY PASSENGERS view those “seats” as COMFORT and NOT SAFETY.
In a sense, SOUTHWEST charges as well. They have a business select fare that allows you to board first. And, that is the ONLY WAY you’ll ever get an exit row seat on that carrier.