FRONTIER AIRLINES is giving passengers the option of paying to keep the seat next to them free.
The US budget airline will allow customers to pay from $39 for the middle seat in their row to be empty.
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Frontier Airlines passengers can now reserve a ‘More Room’ seat assignment – with a confirmed empty middle seat next to them when booking new tickets or at check-in.
Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said: "While we believe the best measure to keep everyone healthy is to require face coverings, for those who want an empty seat next to them for extra peace of mind or simply additional comfort, we are now offering ‘More Room.'"
Flights departing from May 8 untilAugust 31 will have 18 'More Room' seats available for passengers to select.
While keeping the middle seat empty is an option that passengers have to pay for, all travellers will be required by the airline to wear face masks at check-in, at the boarding gate and on Frontier planes from May 8.
In the UK, easyJet have announced that they are looking at plans to keep the middle seat empty on planes when they resume flights.
The airline is looking into ways to enable passengers to social distance while flying.
Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the measure is aimed at encouraging passengers to fly after the coronavirus pandemic recedes.
He told reporters: "I expect that to happen. That is something that we will do because I think that is something that the customers would like to see."
But Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned the low-budget carrier won’t fly if it is required to keep the middle seat empty.
The airline chief said he expected 80 per cent of the carrier’s schedule to resume by September if flights in Europe started again in early July – but only if it was allowed to use all of the seats on its planes.
Instead of eliminating the middle seat, the Irish low-cost carrier backs the introduction of mandatory temperature checks and face masks for passengers and crew when flights resume.
He said he had made clear to the Irish government that if it wanted to implement such a restriction, it could foot the bill or Ryanair would not fly.
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