Looking for a bit of extra legroom without paying? Think again. Airlines have strengthened their policies—either pay up or miss out. This trend has taken off on flights to Hawaii, leaving passengers with fewer ways to stretch out.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
I am flying to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines.. I purchased 2 extra comfort seats for me and my wife… I am in favor of this crackdown.. if you pay for a seat only you can sit there.. it’s not fair to the people that prepay for extra comfort seating …
If you aren’t willing to pay to upgrade to the premium seats, then you should have no expectation for being able to move to those seats if they are empty. Can people rent a compact car and then drive off in an exotic car because it’s on the lot and “empty”? Use some common sense people.
Wow, sad to see the world so greedy and cynical. If you paid for any seat and the plane is in the air you should be able to move to an open seat anywhere. On our last flight to Hawaii I saw about 3 rows near the back where one person was laying across all three seats. Love aloha and be kind. Life is too short.
Just do what you want. Guessing your a Gen z.
When we fly Delta, we always pay extra for comfort plus. We find this well worth it.
Love this idea, it’s a long time coming. Freeloading is cheating. Customer choice on display here. American Airlines are you paying attention?
Why is everyone always looking for free things? Where does the sense of entitlement come from? Why do airlines even have to do this? You can’t sit in the seat you paid? You have to take someone else’s seat so when they show up they’re uncomfortable telling you to move?
I agree with the airlines. It is like going into the Toyota dealer and saying I’ll pay for this Corolla, but I am going to drive out in a Camry. It is a whole different product. Besides, it is not fair to those who actually did pay to upgrade to the extra comfort type seats. If the airlines would have partitioned the extra comfort or economy plus type seats then the situation would be somewhat better, IMO. Thanks.
If they want to change mid-flight, can a FA take their credit card for the extra fee?
I’m sure the FA could take a card. Most airlines charge for alcohol and premium food via CC.
That is how it always should have been. Why should some people get to move to a better seat when they didn’t pay for it unless there is room for everyone in economy to have the better seats. It’s fair, pay for what you want, if you want as cheap as possible, them that’s what you get. If you want a more premium service than pay for it.
We just flew from Paris to Toronto on Air Canada and some people tried to sit in the empty row ahead of us in premium economy and the flight attendants were quick to send them back to economy because thats where their paid seats were.
I experienced that first hand where I went to another seat in the very last row of a Hawaiian Airlines flight just to give a soldier and I more room and a flight attendant with a big flower in her hair militantly kicked me back into the seat I bought and rudely told me I can’t sit there and afterwards put that stupid sign up. They would rather leave an empty seat than provide extra comfort for no additional cost. In this case it was not like I was getting a bigger seat with more space. It was the same size seat and there happened to be two empty seats that no one bought and she wanted me to pay extra just for moving into the same size seat. Also their procedure of offering food for sale first instead of the free food is their money hungry, Non – Aloha tactic of dollar first, Aloha later. I get it, but it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and corporate hospitality is being flushed down the toilet with moves like this. Are you going to
start charging for extra purified air now ?
Where’s the aloha? Whatever revenue that enpty seat would have earned is gone once the door is closed.
Maybe have an onboard auction? The app could implement this.
So much “keep the other crabs in the pot” attitude here. Where’s the aloha?
It would be nice if they had an upgrade policy for these seats. Frequent flyers or people with previous extra room purchases could be given priority.
I don’t know about on Hawaiian but on United those seats do go to anyone with frequent flyer status. Even the lowest tier can choose them on the day of the flight.
What I have noticed about Hawaiian Airlines, is that “Only a Minimal Amount of Seats are Made Available for Upgrade using Your Earned Frequent Flyer Miles.” Hawaiian Airlines prefers that you Pay for an Upgrade.
I am not sure if other Airlines follow this same Practice.
No suprise Hawaiian has empty seats and is losing millions.
My family of 5 flew HA from LAX to KOA. Big sad mistake.
The miles long hike through the Bradley terminal and the disgusting sandwich in a bag tossed at us by an angry FA, the Aloha is gone.
Mahalo for reporting about the empty seats. Trying AA next week.
You may be disappointed with AA. I have used them a couple times cross country in 1st class. Very unimpressed. Hope you have a better experience.
One upside of the potential purchase by Alaska is the disappearance of tye Mike long hike at LAX. If approved Hawaiian will surely move to T6 at LAX.
Sounds like a fair policy … if one would like the added benefit, one should pay for it!
Those who have skirted around this concept for years, should be glad that they have had the opportunity to “play” the system … now as with everything else, it is ” pay-to-play”.
As someone who pays for added comfort on Hawaiian flights I applaud the airline. If I have paid an extra $100 for a seat I really feel that others should get the premium for free. I would be in favor of comping the unused premium seat as long as Hawaiian refunded me the cost of the upgrade.
If you can get it for free why should anyone pay?
Hopefully this discourage cheap flyers from flying. Take a Greyhound
Well at least I can still change seats at will on Southwest. Oops – now that’s about to be gone too! Sign of the times.
This news is not new. Most airlines have this policy, it’s whether or not it gets enforced is what’s different. This article was unnecessary as it’s no change from what is already suppose to be implemented to begin with.
I think it’s fair to pay for extra comfort. And passengers should pay if it’s still available when they board. We just want a smooth, quiet flight with no one starting an argument!
Thank you.
HA used to be the 2nd best carrier, in fact i workedcfor them when best , Pan Am, bit the dust. HA Is now a cattle car,overpricing Hawaii residents -just because they can. They’re losing passengers galore.
All seats should be enough room to be comfortable! Quit extra charging for everything! Going to cause trouble for flight attendants!
Unfortunately, flight attendants another duty to perform on their job requirements list: “empty seat watchdogs”. I just know there will be trouble when passengers are confronted by this. United even had the gall to yellow tape a huge section of their cabin to deter scofflaws!
Firstly, the reason you are required to stay in your seat is incase something happens GFB. We recently travelled from Sydney to HNL and we chose extra leg room. However a couple across from us(in A/B also extra legroom) One decided to take the whole middle row. (Awkwardly I must say)Another couple split up and used the free seats in the middle also. The crew should be explaining the reasons to sit where you are assigned.
Why would you want to use the word “insulting” in reference to passengers Not being able to sit in a premium seat that they did not pay for!? That literally makes no sense and even suggesting that it might be insulting to some people, is in my opinion, insulting itself. Passengers expecting or getting something for nothing is a thing of the past so it is way past time to let those thought go.
Enforcing? About time. We always fly premium (extra leg space or exit row) and I can’t tell you how many times people jump seats to empty premium or exit row seats just before takeoff. And it’s rare that the flight attendants enforce it – maybe because they didn’t notice? Glad to see someone is starting to keep track of who belongs in what seats. The more militant the better. Makes me feel better when ponying up for premium.
I flew the exact same seats you guys are in above from HNL to LAS earlier this year. It was on the oldest A330 in the fleet, wasn’t impressed. Wrote a review here. The PEcon section reminded me of a dingy claustrophobic cave and the seat was very uncomfortable to me even though pitch and legroom were good… Hopefully the new 787’s will remedy that…
Best Regards.
It’s simple! If you desire First Class, pay for it! If you want extra legroom, pay for it! Remember the airlines is a business with substantial operating costs.
Just as it should be! You want more legroom or comfort, get your wallet out! I do! It works very well. People need to pay for all the amenities of a comfortable flight experience. Otherwise, there is no value in those extra legroom seats. The airlines realize it & now they must capitalize upon it! Good move!
You get what you pay for. No exceptions!!
Had a flight on United. Seat was on the sale, which was why it was purchased. On the second leg of the flight, United told me I could not have a carryon and would have to pay 40.00 to check it…thus recouping the sale price. The plane was only half full, and there was plenty of overhead room.
Did you purchase a Basic Economy ticket? You might have done well on the first leg, but the second leg was based on that cheaper fare.
This will be our last trip to Hi. Costs high,flights & condo added taxes. We may have to stay at condo & swim in pool. Do they charge more for that too?
United always allows carry-ons for free, unless of course you bought a basic economy ticket. Which obviously you did. So again you were trying to get something for free that other people paid for with a regular coach ticket.
I don’t understand why anyone would dis an airline for not giving free “upgrades” to passengers who chose not to pay for them – many of whom are likely not Frequent Flyers
From personal experience, I know Delta make’s onboard upgrades on flights which are full or oversold.
How is this really any different than First Class? Just because there is an empty seat in first class does that mean that it’s “first come, first serve”?
I’m not a huge fan of the “extra legroom” thing, but….
“The flight attendant politely declined, explaining that those seats were reserved unless purchased”
Corporate word games. “Reserved”? No, it plainly was not reserved. Your seat transfer request was “denied” due to “money.”
Another change is in order: they no longer are “flight attendants.” Now they are paid “airline fee enforcers.”
For example: let’s say you bought a Toyota. Just because no one bought a Lexus, it’s ok for you to drive off with it?
Nothing says Aloha like Flight attendants forced to act as seat monitors.
“Mahalo for staying miserable in your cheap seats.”
Aloha from Hawaiian Airlines.
I have a medical condition that requires more legroom. Are there any accommodations for passengers with disabilities?
There sure is. It’s called the “Franklin, Jackson and Hamilton” accommodation.
I always try to save money. Is it worth paying for these seats in advance, or do you think they might offer a better deal onboard?
I fly to Hawaii several times a year, and I’ve started noticing this too. It used to be easy to snag an empty extra legroom seat mid-flight, but now not. Has anyone successfully upgraded onboard?
Many of us earn these seats through frequent flyer status.
I do not want someone who paid the cheapest fare to have access to these seats for free.
Everyone wants to be special but if you want comfort pay for it.
Thank you gentlemen.
Bingo!
For those of us that are on the tall side (I am 6’7″) this is a prime example of “tall descrimination”. The airlines are required to accommodate all passenger sizes but us tall folks are the ones that get dinged for it in the pocketbook because it is much more difficult for a tall person to sit in a low-leg room seat than it is a short person. Unfortunately, being tall is not a protected class…..
There is an old saying” Give them an inch and they take two”. For many years most airlines have been generous and allowing their passengers to switch seats when availabe as a kind gesture to passengers. But now some passengers are expecting that same gesture. And when they don’t receive it they are very unsatisfied. Moral lesson is be content in what you have and be thankful in everything. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18.