EK seat selection revamp

EMIRATES yesterday began offering an expanded range of “extra value seats” in Economy class, with passengers able to pay extra for ‘preferred seats’, ‘twin seats’ and ‘extra legroom seats’.

The development follows the launch in Oct 2016 of Advance Seat Reservation charges for customers travelling on Economy Special or Saver tickets.

Effective for tickets purchased on or after 20 Aug 17, seat selection charges will also apply for customers wanting to reserve seats prior to online check-in for ‘Extra Value’ seats, even for passengers flying on a Flex or Flex Plus fare on Emirates flights.

‘Preferred seats’ are closer to the front of the plane and allow for faster disembarkation.

In most Emirates aircraft preferred seats are in smaller cabin sections, such as first rows of B777-300 aircraft, first rows of the A380 lower deck and on the A380 two-class upper deck.

‘ Twin seats’ allow customers to travel on a row of only window and aisle seats - as found on the last rows of the B777 and on the upper deck of the A380 2-class.

‘Extra legroom’ seats are exit rows across the entire EK fleet.

The carrier said bulkhead seats were not considered as extra legroom, and were available only to passengers travelling with infants, free of charge.

In an update to agents issued last Fri the carrier noted that before online check-in opens some passengers may be entitled to complimentary seat selection depending on fare brand, seat category and EK Skywards tier.

The seat selection charges only apply before online check-in opens 48 hours prior to departure - at which point it becomes free of charge on regular, preferred and twin seats.

Extra legroom seats can be purchased until six hours before the flight departs.

Passengers requiring special assistance are assigned suitable seats before departure free of charge, with EK saying it’s working with GDS partners to implement selection of the new extra value seat options.

In the meantime extra value seats must be booked via the Emirates website.

Fees for seat selection vary depending on season, route and destination and range from $20- $45 for regular seats, $35-$110 for preferred seats, $45-145 for twin seats and $75-$185 for extra legroom seats.

Platinum frequent flyer members and their companions (Emirates and Qantas) can select regular, preferred and twin seats at no charge.

Gold members and companions get free seat selection for regular and preferred seats, while silver members can select regular seats without paying extra.

See www.emirates.com/au.