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British Airways now charging to reserve a seat....
British Airways to charge passengers up to £60 to reserve a seat | Business | guardian.co.uk
British Airways to charge passengers up to £60 to reserve a seatBA will
British Airways is introducing charges for passengers who want to secure a window seat. Photograph: Newscast
British Airways passengers who wish to choose their seats when they book will soon have to pay for the privilege, the airline announced today.
The new charges, which range from £10 to £60, will hit people who wish to ensure they sit together on a flight or secure a window, aisle or emergency-exit seat.
BA will still allow passengers to reserve seats without charge in the 24 hours before departure. But from 7 October those willing to pay will be able to secure their preferred spot in the cabin when they make a booking. BA said the move would "give customers more control over their seating options".
For an economy-class trip within Europe, passengers will pay an extra £10 each to choose a seat. On long-haul economy or short business-class flights, the charge will be £20, while long-haul passengers in business will pay £60.
Seats in an emergency-exit row will cost £50 each and can be booked between 10 and four days before takeoff.
The airline has already cut luggage allowances and abolished free meals on short flights as it attempts to bolster its balance sheet after a £401m loss in the last financial year.
In June, BA launched a "value calculator" on its website, designed to draw attention to extra charges – beyond the basic cost of the flight – faced by passengers on budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet.
British Airways to charge passengers up to £60 to reserve a seatBA will
British Airways is introducing charges for passengers who want to secure a window seat. Photograph: Newscast
British Airways passengers who wish to choose their seats when they book will soon have to pay for the privilege, the airline announced today.
The new charges, which range from £10 to £60, will hit people who wish to ensure they sit together on a flight or secure a window, aisle or emergency-exit seat.
BA will still allow passengers to reserve seats without charge in the 24 hours before departure. But from 7 October those willing to pay will be able to secure their preferred spot in the cabin when they make a booking. BA said the move would "give customers more control over their seating options".
For an economy-class trip within Europe, passengers will pay an extra £10 each to choose a seat. On long-haul economy or short business-class flights, the charge will be £20, while long-haul passengers in business will pay £60.
Seats in an emergency-exit row will cost £50 each and can be booked between 10 and four days before takeoff.
The airline has already cut luggage allowances and abolished free meals on short flights as it attempts to bolster its balance sheet after a £401m loss in the last financial year.
In June, BA launched a "value calculator" on its website, designed to draw attention to extra charges – beyond the basic cost of the flight – faced by passengers on budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet.
$7 (10 euro)
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