US carrier continues down ancillary path

American Airlines is to start charging extra for passengers who want front seats in its economy class.

Economy travellers on transcontinental seats out of the US will be faced with an extra $39 charge if they want to sit at the bulkhead.

The same charge will apply to passengers on domestic long-haul flights, though the charge for shorter flights will be $19.

The new charges seem so far only to apply to flights out of America.

AA's new Express Seats scheme is part of its Your Choice collection of charges for various optional services.

The extra-priced seats can be reserved from 24 hours to 50 minutes before take-off.

They can only be bought at the check-in kiosk.

AA said the service would apply to the first few rows of seats in economy and passengers who paid extra would board and exit the aircraft with premium travellers.

As an example of the new fees, the airline said flights from St Louis to Chicago would cost $19 while those between Los Angeles and New York or services to Hawaii would be $39.

www.aa.com