Airlines mulling additional charges
 

On CNBC, commentators say arilines are at full capacity and, as arifares inch upward, are considering more charges such as Northwest's idea to charge and extra $15 on domestic flights for Aisle or exit seats. Also talk of charging for carryon luggage, early boarding and/or charging for checked luggage.

Not any aisle seats, just the premium ones with the extra leg room, like United does now.

You should see the reaction on flyertalk.com about this. Hahaha... About 150 posts since this morning on a thread that already had ~150 posts beforehand.

What NW's doing is taking away some of the best seats that Elites were able to get before for free. Now, to get the same seats, they'll cost the same $15 even for the elites. Only advantage is that they can purchase them at 36 hours out, 12 hours before the non-elites can.

This is extremely stupid of them. The revenue benefit (~$100 per flight) is not enough to compensate for the deflection of some of their most frequent flyers to other carriers, in my opinion.

will feel sorry for the real employees when nortwest shutdown. The CEO and all those big dogs will just take their money and move on to another campany to ruin.

This is good stuff, and not a joke:

http://www.sterlingticket.com/home/d...enskeplads.htm

"May I have an aisle seat in the rear of the plane, with extra legroom, and next to my friend?"

"Sure, that'd be 20 + 7 + 7 + 13 = 47 Euros. Thanks."

Oh that is too funny, rkkwan!

But probably a harbinger of things to come, sad to say. Besides charges for meals we now have charges to check luggage outside a terminal; I have no doubt that additional fees will be forthcoming as soon as someone thinks of them.

Additional pending charges:

Use of emergency oxygen masks and evacuation slides, if necessary.

Renting a seat in gate waiting area. Charges double if plane is late.

Old fashioned pay-toilets will return in both terminal and on plane.

Rental space in overhead bin.

"In the unlikely event of a water landing, please insert a $5 bill into the slot and you will be able to remove your seat cushion to use as a flotation device."

And don't forget to tip the pilot!

Would make too much sense to offer a discount for the middle seat(s) in rows of 3 or 5, wouldn't it?

Ticketing charge? (They pretty much do that already, but this would be a surcharge on top of either paper or e-ticket.)
Baggage checking charge and baggage claiming charge?
Boarding-pass reader charge?
Pay locks and keys for overheard storage?
Recline-able seat charge?
Tray-table deployment charge?

tray deployable charge?? ha ha ha ha!
you got me on that one soccr!
it is interesting though. i think that many people would pay for an actual seat they want. but i wonder what the long terms effects are...customer service wise, what if the seat was broken, or the passenger felt otherwise snubbed by the flight attendent. and domestic vs. international? it seems to me this would most likely be a more american thing. i can only imagine the letters now...

Just wait - they will soon have an "overuse of equipment" charge to be instituted when flight is late or you get stuck on tarmac for extended period of time.

Those "mandatory seatbelt usage fees" are getting pretty high.

Also, the aisle toll booth and the under seat storage rental agreement.
((D))8-)

Let us hope that these fine suggestions don't give anyone at the airlines ideas!

Those flying first or business class will not be exempt - they will be charged a resort fee

Actually, coach passengers will be asked to pay the resort fees for first class passengers, in return for which first class passengers will give them a pat on the head and one free token for the rear restroom.