Airlines Want to Charge Extra Fees for Legroom

By Linda Ripoll

As if the skyrocketing gas prices and ever increasing flight rates weren't enough to deter many American travelers to book flights, airlines are looking to charge extra fees for services and amenities that used to be free such as additional legroom. According to travel statistics, many travelers are not willing to spend the extra cash on services that are not considered a necessity. From in-flight entertainment to priority boarding, customers would rather deal with a few minor inconveniences than be nickeled and dimed to death for every possible amenity available. The surprising aspect of this situation is that the tightening of the wallet isn't just a middle class issue. Many first-class and wealthy travelers are opting not to pay these additional fees and are foregoing some of the luxuries that used to be considered excellent incentives. Ironically, it may be only a matter of time before airlines go back to the previous business model of bundling various services in order to offer some value and keep their planes full.