The Corporate Housing Network Blog

Extra bucks, little more comfort–Business travel news to use

Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by Kat Schneider Fotheringham in Blog, Business Travel, Uncategorized, corporate housing, executive accommodations, international business travel

Quick note to self–and to others–the customer is always right.  That’s why I’m posting this little nugget today. Here goes.  Continental Airlines has just released that it will begin charging coach passengers extra if they want to sit in a seat with more leg room.  More leg room. 

Ok, we all know how uncomfortable a long flight can be if you’re sitting in a cramped, crowded space.  So why wouldn’t we all want more leg room?  So how does this work…will jets continue to be manufactured in a way that doesn’t allow for extra leg room initially, or will they be built with this customer need in mind from the outset?

Here’s how it will work. Continental says prices will vary depending on the length of a flight and popularity of the route. For example, extra room on a Houston-New York flight could cost $59. International fliers would be required to pay more.

Continental’s more comfortable offerings will begin starting March 17, when coach customers will be able to pay the added charge at check-in to get an exit-row seat with at least 7 inches more legroom than the other rows, according to Continental.

Great news if you have the cash.  If you’re traveling on business, and your organization is already trimming its corporate housing budget, I wouldn’t expect to see this accommodation taken into account at reimbursement time. As we all know, budgets are tight, even with the economy beginning to make its way back.

So if you’ve got a little extra green and a little luck on March 17, you might be able to secure a more comfortable set for your business trip.

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