Sun Country Charging for Pre-Assigning Seats
I noticed today that every seat on my Sun Country flight is a “premium” seat worthy of an $8 charge if I check-in online and pick a seat at that time. (Yes, even middle seats where the seats on both sites are occupied.) However, if I go to the airport and check-in in person, there is no charge.
Paying $8 to assure that I’ll have my favorite seat on the plane doesn’t seem too painful, but I’m trying to understand how this benefits Sun Country. If I go to the airport, I’ll likely end up interacting with Sun Country staff rather than serving myself online. Surely, that costs Sun Country money, so what’s less convenient for me is also more costly for them.
It doesn’t seem like our interests are aligned here. Wouldn’t it benefit Sun Country to steer people toward being as self-serve as possible rather than creating incentives to consume front-line staff time assigning a seat to me?
For example, I have received bonus miles from other airlines for checking in online, from kiosks, or using QR code boarding passes. It’s an effective way to get people to try new, more efficient, check-in systems.
Perhaps Sun Country has determined that enough people are willing to cough up $8 to guarantee the seat of their choice? Are they ahead of the curve here? I hope not.
September 22nd, 2010 at 9:13 am
yuck. there’s nothing premium about those middle seats.
September 22nd, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I hate those middle seats almost as much as I hate getting an aisle only to find a huge stinking mediabox at my feet.
Also, did you write those first lines from your iphone? There are some crazy grammar-issues/typos (site/side); I’m hoping we really don’t need a review of there, their, and they’re here.
September 22nd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
@Sun dawg, you read this stuff? I just write it. I’ve cleaned things up a big. Hopefully to your standards.
September 26th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I’m torn on this. I’m definitely in agreement that an extra 8 bucks middle seat is a waste. Sitting by a Sun Country gate right now (w/ free wifi. Hooray!). I did pay the extra 8 bucks for a window seat just because I can lay against something, snooze and sometimes stare out a window.
September 26th, 2010 at 10:30 am
@Paul, I definitely value windows higher than aisles or middle seats, and by more than $8. But, I’m trying to figure out how the numbers work for Sun Country. Some will pay. Some will say, “forget it” and head to a counter for a seat assignment, which has the potential to create more face to face work for front-line employees.
Post Sun Country all you can fly fare, I’m going to need to make a point of considering the extra $16 I need to pay to have the same experience I can get on competing airlines.