Extra leg-room to cost more with Qantas

Passengers requesting exit row seats on Qantas flights will be charged extra by the Australian airline. Photo / Martin Sykes

Tall people have traditionally requested a "seat by the exit" on long haul flights, knowing that there is extra leg-room available in those seats.

But Qantas are putting a stop to that. Unless people are prepared to pay more, that is.

The Australian carrier will penalise the tall by charging passengers extra for reserving economy class exit-row seats on its international flights.

Passengers looking for more leg room will be charged an extra $160 on long-haul flights, and $80 per sector on short-haul flights to Asia and New Zealand, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The charge will net the airline more than $2500 each flight and will begin next month.

An airline spokesman told the Daily Telegraph yesterday: "This will give customers greater choice and access to seats that offer more leg room."

The move follows similar charges employed by Virgin Blue across its domestic routes.

- NZ HERALD STAFF