Passenger Charged Extra $80 For Aisle Seat

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Getting an aisle seat will cost flyers extra if they choose to fly Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The New York Times and other media report that New York commodities trader David Stewart learned last week that he would have to pay $80 if he chose to sit in an exit-row aisle seat. The 6-foot, 5-inch man convinced a gate agent to let him sit there anyway, but a section of aisle seats behind him stayed empty.

The Times reported that a Virgin spokeswoman called the fee a common industry practice.

The a-la-carte pricing was once driven by record oil prices, now airlines are blaming their inability to make money and consumers’ push against higher ticket prices. They stated that they lost $55 billion, according to airlines’ global trade group International Air Transport Association.

Consumer advocates such as Aviation Consumer Action Project executive director Paul Hudson caution that such tactics may work against the airlines.

"People will reach a point and say 'That's it,''' he said to the Times.

Along with watching the bottom dollar, some airlines are catering to high-paying customers’ comfort to bring back business.

Business Week reported that Delta Air Lines is offering seats that recline 180 degrees into beds while American Airlines is counting on Tahitian crab soup and other Asian-fusion appetizers to attract corporate passengers.

The new features come as a slump in first- and business-class travel begins to ease, according to Business Week.

Delta will spend $1 billion on fleet upgrades through 2013 that include lie-flat seats and quilted duvet comforters on 90 planes on international routes.

Airlines may see a boost ahead. Reuters reported that shares of U.S. airlines rose on Monday as the economy showed signs of improving.

Recent data has shown that consumer spending increased slightly higher than expected in January along with the U.S. manufacturing sector. Experts say travel demand may be the next step after economic recovery.