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Continental Airlines will offer customers the option of purchasing, at check in, premium seat assignments for unreserved economy-class seats that feature extra legroom.

Published: 05 Mar 2010

Continental Airlines will offer customers the option of purchasing, at check in, premium seat assignments for unreserved economy-class seats that feature extra legroom.

The programme will commence from March 17. Pricing for the premium seats will vary depending on a number of factors, including the length of the flight and market.

Depending on the type of aircraft and row, seats with extra legroom provide customers with a minimum of seven additional inches of leg space. Customers will be able to purchase these seats at continental.com or at the airport kiosk during the normal check-in period, beginning at 24 hours prior to departure of the first flight in an itinerary.

“Seats with additional legroom are higher-value seats, and we want to offer them to customers who recognise that value,” said Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the airline.

Continental’s OnePass Elite frequent flyer members and their traveling companions will be able to continue to assign themselves seats with extra legroom in economy class without charge.

Some other airlines already charge extra for exit-row seats. According to The AP, United, for example, sells “economy plus” seats in coach, with up to five extra inches of legroom. On its website, United says the upgrade costs $49 on Denver-to-Seattle flights and $109 going from Los Angeles to Tokyo. JetBlue charges $10 to $40 each way for seats with more legroom.