Airlines’ perks: Do they meet travellers’ need?

Some jobs and professions have different perks and you will need to work very hard to take full advantage of what they have to offer. Knowing the perks of a potential job offer will let you know if the job is really worth pursuing or not. Same applies to an organisation seeking to attract customers with what it has to offer or other incentive, perk s or what have you.

In recent time, airlines are the most orgnisations that are fond of offering or advertising perks for travellers just to attract customers to their side. But sometimes, when the so called perks are put on the table, do customers really need them? Do they really meet their needs on that flight or that period?

Travel analyst say most of the times, the bonuses they advertised just go away with the services without being patronized because they are not needed. The say there is need for the airlines to carry out research on what their customers need at a particular point in time and offer them instead of just making choices among themselves.

Once upon a time, the guy who booked his plane ticket early was the lucky chap who laid claim to the window seat in the exit row. But today, first-come, first-served plane seats have gone the way of stewardesses, cabin smoking sections and paper tickets.

In the past few years, customers have rolled their eyes as airline after airline rolled out “perks” like priority boarding and preferred economy seating, taking away any chance that a fortuitous flier could achieve the best possible economy experience at no cost. Special fee-seating and priority boarding programmes are no matter how you slice it, little more than greasy added fees for services that were once available for free.

That said, these programmes are here to stay. So, instead of scoffing at the idea that fliers have to pay for something that was once complimentary, let us move on, accept the status quo and find out how we can use it to our advantage. Are priority boarding and preferred seating programmes really worth our cash? George Hobica, founder and president of Airfarewatchdog.com, thinks so.

According to him, with so many fliers carrying bags onboard now, you really have to fight for overhead bin space. And these perks are especially great for families. If you want to keep the family sitting together, and you do not want the kids sitting between two strangers, you can purchase the seats you want with some preferred seating programmes.”

Airline early boarding and premium seating programmes vary widely, with some offering more value than others. Below, I dissect a handful of programmes from the major airlines to help you decipher which ones are best for you.

Giving instance of what obtains on international airlines, he says while attempting to book a flight on the American Airlines website, “I received the option to buy the airline’s Boarding and Flexibility Package, a product available under the AA Your Choice programme. The package includes admission to group one of general boarding, the chance to fly standby on an earlier flight and a $75 flight change discount. Prices vary by flight, but my screen was telling me the add-on would cost $38 roundtrip per person for a flight from Newark to Chicago”.

Additionally, AA passengers can opt for Express Seats, another perk rolled under American’s Your Choice programme.

These seats are only available for purchase within 24 hours of departure on select flights. Book Express Seats and you will get to sit in the front of the plane and board with group one general boarding. The cost of Express Seats varies by mileage, but I’ve seen rates ranging from $19 to $39 per leg.

The Verdict: For travelers who want to get on the plane early and secure some overhead space, it looks like American’s Boarding and Flexibility package beats Express Seats in terms of affordability. But prices vary, so be sure to compare rates for your particular itinerary before buying anything. If you need to sprint away in order to make a connection, go for Express Seats, as the Boarding and Flexibility package does not offer seating near the front of the cabin.

With its Extra Legroom Seats program, Continental charges fliers for the privilege of sitting in the better parts of coach, such as in the exit row. Early boarding is not included. I had difficulty checking prices for this one, as you can only reserve an Extra Legroom Seat after you’ve purchased a ticket. According to Continental, “The fee to purchase an extra legroom seat varies based on a number of factors including the length of the flight and market. A lower price may also apply for extra legroom seats with limited or no recline.” Boarding Area reports that Continental charged $59 for an exit row seat on a flight from Houston to Newark — which gives us at least some idea of how much these seats can cost.

Continental’s Extra Legroom Seats program has been replaced with Economy Plus in 2012 when the airline merged with United.

The Verdict: Extra Legroom seats offer at least seven inches of space over regular economy seats, says the airline — and hey, that is a decent chunk of breathing room. But these seats do not come with early boarding. So is this worth 60 bucks? It all depends on the length of your legs, I guess. Plus, since Continental boards rear to front, those sitting in exit row seats, which are usually in the first half of the plane, will not have first dibs at the overhead bins.

On select international flights, Delta passengers can upgrade to Economy Comfort and take advantage of up to four inches of extra legroom, plus priority boarding in zone two, 50 percent more recline space, free alcoholic beverages and seat-back video screens on some planes. Prices range from $80 to $160 per segment.

Economy Comfort is not available on domestic flights. Most Delta domestic flights have Preferred Seats, which include roomy exit row seats and seats in the front of the plane — but they are not for sale to regular Joe flier. According to the Delta website, these seats are offered at no charge to “Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members, SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, Alaska Airlines MVP and MVP Gold members, passengers that have purchased full fare Y or B class of service, and companions of preferred-seat eligible customers.” (Can you say that in one breath?)

The Verdict: On a long international flight, it might be worth $80 to unfold one’s legs just a few more inches. And the free drinks are not a bad perk either.

Sade Williams with agency report