strib: NWA saves you an aisle seat – for $15

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Last update: March 13, 2006 – 11:01 PM

NWA saves you an aisle seat – for $15

Late-booking passengers, often doomed to sit in a cramped middle seat, are being targeted as an added revenue source for the airline.

Liz Fedor, Star Tribune

If you don't want to get stuck in the middle seat on a Northwest Airlines flight, starting today you'll be able to pay an extra $15 to get a spot on the aisle.

Like other airlines, the bankrupt carrier is looking for new ways to generate revenue, and it decided to test the idea on all Northwest and Mesaba domestic flights.


(snip)

Northwest will now reserve a few aisle and exit-row seats for people who are willing to pay $15 extra when they check in. On a Boeing 757, only 10 seats will be for sale for the extra $15 fee. Six of those seats are in exit rows and four are aisle seats near the front of the 160-seat coach cabin.

(snip)

In January 2003, Northwest launched a test for selling meals on board. Today, flight attendants sell snack boxes and sandwiches on domestic flights. Also, Northwest got rid of free pretzels and does not supply pillows in coach on most domestic flights.

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/305087.html