Alaska Airlines is set to trial a premium economy service from next month.
It will offer what it calls ‘priority seating’ with up to eight inches extra legroom, and inclusive of a free drink and priority boarding.
The airline’s exit row and bulkhead seats will be used so no reconfiguration of its fleet of Boeing 737 jets, said Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Harrison.
Alaska’s elite frequent flier program members will still get priority access to these seats free of charge, and then will go on open sale at check-in on the day of departure.
Alaska will charge an extra $15 to $50 depending on the length of flight.
Harrison said the carrier will assess the demand and may make it a permanent feature.
"We continue to look at this. If we get good uptake, we might expand this."
The airline is one of the last carriers to go down the premium economy route.
Virtually all of Alaska’s main rivals including United, Delta and American, have configured separate areas in the cabin for preferred seating offering more legroom and a variety of extra perks.
