Another airline to charge extra for legroom

Monday, March 15, 2010

By Gemma Pitcher
MSN NZ Travel writer

Continental Airlines has announced that it will join Qantas and Virgin Atlantic in charging over $100 for passengers to book emergency exit rows (you know, the ones with the extra legroom and the scary looking levers next to them). Virgin Blue also charges you up to $45 for exit rows on their domestic flights.

The airline says the exact price of a seat with extra legroom will vary according to the length of the flight, the route, and passenger demand, but a seat with extra legroom on a transatlantic flight could be around $109.

So what do you think? Are you one of those people who'll turn up three hours early and flirt desperately with the check-in staff , invent archaic medical conditions or claim to be claustrophobic and borderline psychotic in order to get that precious extra legroom? If so you'd probably gladly pay what amounts to a small percentage of a long haul ticket in order to have the extra space.

Or do you think that everyone should have a fair opportunity to get the exit row seats and airlines are just taking the Mickey by trying to charge for them?

Have your say using the comments form below.

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User comments

I see Qantas is charging for these seats. No wonder! With all the bits that keep falling off their planes the demand must be high, EVERYONE would want a quick way off.

It seems like nowdays airlines are nitpicking for every dollar, so if you pay for the extra space then you really dont have to help the staff open the doors, right. like if you were some sadist and didnt care, even though it would be in your best interest, or what if you have some medical condition and really could not help, or were just overweight and totally blocked the exit anyway?? Have these idiots thought this through, I can forsee law suits in the future. We dont opt for those emerg seats as we have kids, and we do fly home frequently, I m gonna stick to Air NZ.

If I get a leg clot as a result of flying with an airline which does not cater for my height, Would I have a case under the health and safety act?

Just build bigger and spacey planes and that will solve the problems for large people and tall people.And give short tiny people more space too.So whats the problem just pay the same Airfare for each individual Large Tall Short Tiny whatever.Problem solved YAY.

FLY EMIRATES they have very good leg room you do not have to pay for EXIT seats if you want on these airlines are taking the micky so why fly with them I fly EMIRATES no fuss no trouble

I reacently traveled Quantas To LA and being a fit ex military person at check in asked for an exit seat to be told about the extra $100 dollar charge, "no way "I said as I have in the last 10 years had about 80-100 international flights and just about always managed to get an exit seat, on many ocaisions being told that they are only for fit and healthy passengers. Now what amazed me when I walked past one excit it was filled with an elderly couple who I wondered if they could in an emergency assist in opening a Exit Door. O well at least their $200 help pay for my Plastic Survial Bag and there flight service was better than Air New Zealand who always give me an Exit Seat for free !

Im 5'2 and weigh 60 kilos and would HAPPILY pay for extra room if I meant i could actually have my own space. Being short in height and not to big in width either i constantly have people take advantage of my personal space when I travel and have everyones arms and legs in what i would class as MY paid for space. I also have extra tall people push their seats way back into me because they know im small and have larger people almost sitting on top of me so i would happily pay more if I could actually enjoy my flight and not have people in my personal space. I dont think that is me discriminating against anyone because if you think that because i am the height of a child that you have the right to more room than i do that is discrimination in itself! You should b mentally and physically able to sit in the emergency exit seats and some people would not be capable of executing what is needed in an emergency so i think the airline should reserve the right to pick and choose who sit there.

relax bob, if there were a question of your health being compromised the airlines would do whatever they could to accommodate you where you need to be. no airline wants the bad publicity of having a passenger pass out from lack of blood circulation to their legs. but have you thought about requesting bulkhead seating?? there's definitely more leg room there, and most airlines dont charge for it (yet) Even better no one else's seat reclines back onto you!

I agree with you for sure Bob!!! Im extremely tall and fly regularly between the Gold coast and Auckland and I have to say I have been in the emergency exit row almost every time (except once when it was a connecting flight and 3 tiny japanese men were sitting in them but boy did i kick up a stink and they moved all 3 haha) It is a human rights violation that as we are vertically challenged by being tall that we pay more for seats with leg room. I will admit that the staff at the check in for jetstar and virgin almost always ask me if I would like the exit row which is more common sense than anything but great nonetheless. If I have to pay more for an exit row in the future I will not fly with that airline and do my very best to cost them a fortune not to mention all the bad publicity they will get due to my connections with almost every radio station in Australia. Stick to your guns Bob!!!!

Being tall is genetics not a choice issue. Those who sit in emergency rows by agreeing to do so also agree to take on additional responsibilities so please explain why passengers will be required to pay for their assistance. Im 5ft6 with a 6ft4 partner - I like many passengers with long legged passengers beside them on isle seats may feel claustrophobic as leaving the row is not easy - even when married to the long legged person. And how helpful is it for flight crew to have long legs across isles? When flying with minimal leg-knee space it is the person in front as well as the long legged person who suffer from inconvenience-disturbances & potential damage Logically then airlines would appreciate those who need the leg space & are willing to support their staff in an emergency Air NewZealand . . . Please don't be a lemming We'll pick you & even pay for snuggle seats when we can As they come with an additional price but without the additional responsibility!!!