Need legroom? Pay US$100
SIA will start charging fee for a guaranteed 'preferred seat'.
EXTRA legroom on Singapore Airlines now comes at a price - US$100 (S$147) for a return flight. In a move that has upset some frequent fliers. the airline is charging a fee for a guaranteed 'preferred seat'. These are essentially exit row seats that passengers can purchase before check-in, SIA said. The new policy applies to all flights, except those within South-east Asia. Flights served by the Boeing B777-200ER has no exit row seats. The airline said in a statement on Monday that that while before, preferred seats were only available on a request basis, 'the new option now offers a guarantee of assignment, subject to terms and conditions, on a first come, first serve basis'.
Not all will be eligible though. Under mandatory safety requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, passengers who ask for exit row seats must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 21 years
- Be fully able-bodied, and capable of opening the exit doors and moving quickly, or reaching and passing through the adjacent emergency exit.
- Be able to understand and follow the safety instructions in English.
- Be in good health at the time of check-in, boarding, and during the flight.
- Not pregnant, or carrying infants, or using an infant seat belt.
- Not under the influence of any intoxicating substance at check-in, boarding, and during the flight, as determined by ground and cabin crew.
- Not require an extension seat belt because of large body size.
As airlines around the world grapple with a global financial crisis that has hit air travel everywhere, experts expect that more and more carriers will turn to sideline revenues to boost the bottomline.
These can take various forms, from charging for food and drinks which low-cost carriers today, to making passengers pay for blankets and other amenities which some carriers in the United States now do.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_297891.html
SIA will start charging fee for a guaranteed 'preferred seat'.
EXTRA legroom on Singapore Airlines now comes at a price - US$100 (S$147) for a return flight. In a move that has upset some frequent fliers. the airline is charging a fee for a guaranteed 'preferred seat'. These are essentially exit row seats that passengers can purchase before check-in, SIA said. The new policy applies to all flights, except those within South-east Asia. Flights served by the Boeing B777-200ER has no exit row seats. The airline said in a statement on Monday that that while before, preferred seats were only available on a request basis, 'the new option now offers a guarantee of assignment, subject to terms and conditions, on a first come, first serve basis'.
Not all will be eligible though. Under mandatory safety requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, passengers who ask for exit row seats must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 21 years
- Be fully able-bodied, and capable of opening the exit doors and moving quickly, or reaching and passing through the adjacent emergency exit.
- Be able to understand and follow the safety instructions in English.
- Be in good health at the time of check-in, boarding, and during the flight.
- Not pregnant, or carrying infants, or using an infant seat belt.
- Not under the influence of any intoxicating substance at check-in, boarding, and during the flight, as determined by ground and cabin crew.
- Not require an extension seat belt because of large body size.
As airlines around the world grapple with a global financial crisis that has hit air travel everywhere, experts expect that more and more carriers will turn to sideline revenues to boost the bottomline.
These can take various forms, from charging for food and drinks which low-cost carriers today, to making passengers pay for blankets and other amenities which some carriers in the United States now do.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_297891.html
