Get me off this plane, now!
Air travelers — who already get socked with fees for checked bags, extra leg room and assigned seating — are willing to pay another levy to be among the first to exit the plane, a new survey shows.
Frustrations and complaints about missed connections from slow exit lines have hit such a high level that one out of six passengers would welcome paying yet another new nuisance fee, according to a research report by AirfareWatchdog.com, which tracks air travel.
US passengers already pay fees to board their departing flights ahead of others. Delta Air Lines, for instance, charges as much as $59 for preferred seating, depending on the length of the flight.
“We hate to give airlines any more ideas about new fees, but it is something they see as a new profit center,” said travel analyst George Hobica, CEO of the website.
While no airlines have announced plans for such a fee, he predicts it’s only a matter of time.
“Early deplaning has a lot of advantages for passengers. But it’s not clear how it would be policed when the plane lands and everyone rushes to get off at the same time,” Hobica said.
The report surveyed more than 1,000 passengers, finding that 16 percent would welcome a fee to get off the plane first.
About 10 percent would readily pay a $10 fee, while 3 percent would cough up $20; 3 percent were open to paying an undetermined amount.
At just $10 a pop, US airlines could collect north of $730 million based on 10 percent of their passengers.
In last year’s crucial holiday period, airlines reaped a record $1.36 billion in fees for bags, upgrades and even website use, according to the Department of Transportation.
One new fee taking effect Oct.31 at some carriers is a $2 charge for using an airport kiosk, similar to an ATM charge.