Wasn’t impressed with US Air’s Economy Choice seats

Through a travel agent, my wife and I scheduled a US Airways flight for Nov. 19, 2014, traveling from Detroit to Philadelphia and then to Rome, with the return along the same route on Dec. 3. 

After receiving our confirmation number, we went onto US Airways’ website (www.usairways.com) on our own and upgraded our seats from economy class to Economy Choice. Our move was from aisle seats in row 14 to aisle seats in row 10.

Once on the airplane, we discovered that our Economy Choice seats were identical to the economy-class seats, even though we had each paid an extra $100 for the upgrade. 

We asked the stewardess and steward about our upgraded seats and were told that the only difference between Economy Choice and regular economy is the cost.

When we booked our airfare and upgraded to Economy Choice, we were never informed that Economy Choice had nothing to do with legroom, seat-reclining angle or upgrades in food or drink. US Airways provides more legroom only in the business- and first-class sections.

We wrote to US Airways/American Airlines right after our trip, said we felt that this was an unfair cost and requested a credit of our $200.

In an email, a Customer Relations representative thanked us for our comments and wrote, “Choice Seats are mostly window and aisle seats toward the front of Coach Class. These seats offer the same legroom as other seats but were selected because many business travelers like shifting toward the front of the cabin, which… allows you to be the first to get on and get off of the plane… . The Choice Seat fee is nonrefundable, and we are unable to honor your request for a refund.”

LeROY G. SALOWICH

West Bloomfield, MI

ITN emailed a copy of Mr. Salowich’s letter to US Airways and received only an automated response.