10 May 2007

AMSTERDAM – KLM is going to charge passengers an additional fee for seats with extra legroom near the emergency exits from now on.

A passenger requesting this seat will be charged EUR 50 extra, a spokesperson for the airline said on Thursday. The airline will introduce the extra charge on a trial basis on certain flights.

Other seats in economy class that have more legroom will also cost more. "There are a limited number of these seats available on each flight," the spokesperson said. Passengers can see online how many such seats are still available if they check in online. A passenger checking in for a round trip journey will be charged EUR 50 for seats with extra legroom.

The trial will be limited to flights to Singapore, Manila and Curacao at the moment. If passengers prove willing to pay the extra fee, KLM wants to introduce the charge on other flights as well.

"If you want a little bit extra comfort, you have to pay more," KLM says. KLM sees these "preferential seats" as an extra source for revenue.

[Copyright Expatica News 2007]

Subject: Dutch news