AirTran clears way for upgrade after boarding

AirTran Airways has started selling upgrades to passengers after boarding, saying some travelers may want to pay extra for business class after they see the posher seats on the plane.

On AirTran, which is based in Orlando and has its primary hub in Atlanta, business class seats are 4 inches wider and have 7 inches more legroom.

“A lot of people see it and say, ‘Wow, I want to sit there,’” said AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson. “People say, ‘I want to buy that seat because I don’t want to be, you know, crammed in the back.’”

Upgrades costs $49 to $99 on AirTran. Passengers pay by credit card to flight attendants, who carry card readers already used for on-board drink sales.

AirTran will continue to sell upgrades at the time of booking, at check-in, at the ticket counter or at the gate, and continue to give complimentary upgrades to elite travelers. Flight attendants will make announcements on board if any upgrades remain and are for sale.

“We were sitting around one day saying, ‘Hey, we try to sell the unsold seats at the gate, but have you ever bought anything without looking at it?” Hutcheson said. “

Those who buy upgrades on board miss out on the benefits of early boarding and pre-departure drinks, Hutcheson said. But a last-minute move up to business class may be appealing to first-time or infrequent AirTran passengers, he said.

Travel expert Terry Trippler, a Minneapolis-based airline consultant, said he thinks it’s a “fantastic idea,” particularly for passengers who find themselves sitting next to someone they’d prefer not to be near.

Chris Lopinto, a partner at ExpertFlyer.com, said business travelers tend to book their upgrades ahead of time, and other airlines often run out of business class seats by takeoff.

“It works for AirTran because they don’t have the huge loyalty program and the following that an American or a United or Delta does,” Lopinto said.