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.)
