Bad news, flyers: A-la-carte ticketing has arrived. Northwest Airlines is the first airline to inflict these new costs on us, and in typical fashion the airline is trying to make it sound like good news. It’s not.
Here’s the “deal.” Effective immediately, Northwest says it is “saving some preferred coach seat assignments until check-in” on about five percent of domestic seats. If you want that aisle or exit-row seat, be prepared to fork over another $15 to reserve it.
Right now the airline is unleashing this as a “test” program on limited flights, but if it’s successful (read: if Northwest makes a fortune off us) you can bet the airline—and others—will rush to expand it.
Northwest is billing this as “Coach Choice.” To me it just looks like we’ll have to pay $15 for something that was free yesterday.
I know which seat I’m picking: one on another airline.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
9-Night Seoul, Hong Kong & Tokyo...
Exoticca
vacation $3099+16-Night Hawaiian Islands Cruise Over Christmas...
Princess Cruises
cruise $1579+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+