Easyjet to introduce allocated seat charges.

[MARTIN3030]

Follows what they say is evidence that customers prefer to have allocated seating,although they dont say if those surveyed said they would be happy to pay extra charges.

Starting in November there will be an 3 charge bands for extra legroom,a seat at the front of the plane,or any other seat.Those not taking up the allocation option at booking,will be told their seat numbers before boarding.

 

As many know,even paying for a seat at the front does not guarantee you will actually get into the airport terminal at your destination quicker.In fact many airports now have transfer bendy buses outside of aprons,and it can see those boarding FIRST getting off LAST !

http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/seat-easyjet-100605430.html

[MARTIN3030]

So how do they compare ?

 

Easyjet:

* £12 for extra leg room (front row and exit rows) – and automatic Speedy Boarding pass

* £8 for seats in the front of the plane

* £3 for any other seat

 

Ryanair;

 

PRIORITY BOARDING

 

The Priority Boarding service allows passengers to be part of the first group to board the aircraft and choose any seat on board, except for those seats designated as Reserved Seating in rows 1,2, 16 & 17.

Priority Boarding can be purchased online for a fee of £5/€5 per person/per one way flight (or local currency equivalent ) during the initial booking process (for all passengers on a flight reservation) or after booking via Manage My Booking. Alternatively it can be purchased at an airport ticket desk or via a call centre for £6/€6 per person/per one way flight.

Extra legroom-€10 each way from January 10 2012. This will allow you to sit in the exit rows 16 and 17 or to reserve the first two rows for a quick exit when the flight lands. You must be over 16 to purchase these seats.

 

 

Wizzair;

 

Wizz Xpress Priority boarding fee

via wizzair.com & call centre Per flight, per passenger 4 EUR / 3 GBP

WIZZ Reserved Seat

via wizzair.com & call centre Per flight, per passenger 8 EUR / 7 GBP

WIZZ XXLong Extra legroom seat fee

via wizzair.com & call centre Per flight, per passenger 8 EUR / 7 GBP

[MaxxPower]

I can easily see the only way families/groups get to sit together is to pre-book seating. It's almost guaranteed that when making a booking for groups of people at once, if you don't pay for allocated seating then the system will place all the seats apart from each other.

[MARTIN3030]

Yes.

This is clearly being introduced to increase revenue stream ,rather than any customer improvement guise.

They said they surveyed 5% to seek opinions.

Hardly a convincing number.

[MARTIN3030]

Interestingly only days ago,I had an email from Wizzair asking to complete a survey.

Most of it was concerned with fees for family bookings.

I wonder if they are looking to introduce a fixed fee for a family booking-both for the actual ticketing and the seats.

At boarding gates,travellers with babies are already given priority boarding if they spot them even if they have not paid extra for it.

[andydd]

Just back from a trip with EasyJet, didnt pay for any of the extra SB's or anything else. Cant really sere the point, will only save you a few minutes (and this will be useless if you wait to collect baggege anyway), as Martin pointed out, if a bus transfer is involved (it was) then it was acftually the last on the bus who were first off !

 

Andy

[MARTIN3030]

Yes was caught out with that myself a few times but have it sussed out now.

What you need to know is which side of the bus will be stopping outside the terminal as there are doors either side.

[Old Cogger]

allocated seat free on most reputable sites, this just another money grabbing idea of theirs, that company will burn itself out soon only got to look at aviation History. Many a time I have checked in on an aircraft and changed planes half way thru journey, and got on net )(no charge) a front seat only to find near 1st off but near last getting luggage, sorry not pay for that gimmick.

[jacqui_o]

For those with mobility issues priority boarding and seat allocation is vital.....

[andydd]

For those with mobility issues priority boarding and seat allocation is vital.....

 

Dont know about others but EasyJet do appear to allow those with such issues and youngsters, on first.