Korean Air Converts Preferred Seats Including Emergency Exit Seats to Paid Sales
Extra Legroom and Front Preferred Seats Available... Prices Range from 20,000 to 150,000 Won
As the court's decision on Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines approaches, on the 30th, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines passenger planes were moving toward the runway at Gimpo Airport apron in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Central District Court is expected to deliver a ruling on the injunction request filed by activist private equity fund KCGI against Hanjin KAL to prohibit new share issuance either today or tomorrow. If the court dismisses the injunction request, the acquisition process will accelerate, but if the injunction is granted, the acquisition is likely to be canceled. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Korean Air will start charging for preferred seats, including emergency exit seats, from next year.
Korean Air announced on the 7th that from January 14 next year, some advance-assigned seats on international flights will be converted to paid seats. The targeted seats include 'Extra Legroom' seats that allow passengers to stretch their legs more comfortably than regular seats, and preferred front seats located at the front of the economy class for easier boarding and disembarking.
The price for these seats ranges from a minimum of 20,000 KRW to a maximum of 150,000 KRW depending on the distance (20 to 150 USD for departures abroad). Regular seats, excluding Extra Legroom and preferred front seats, will continue to be assigned free of charge even if selected in advance. However, seats designated for passengers with mobility difficulties and those traveling with infants will remain free of charge.
This paid advance seat assignment system has mainly been implemented by low-cost carriers (LCCs), but recently foreign airlines such as Delta Air Lines and Air France have also started adopting it. Asiana Airlines introduced a similar system last year.
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A Korean Air official stated, "We have been considering introducing this service since last year," adding, "The implementation was delayed due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."
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