THERE is now less reason to envy that person sitting at the exit row, enjoying all that wonderful legroom.

The extra space comes at a price – US$50 one-way and double that for a return flight.

Singapore Airlines’ decision to charge a premium for what it calls guaranteed “preferred seats” has drawn mixed reactions from readers and the industry.

It’s not about the money, SIA says. After all, there are just between two and 18 of such seats in an aircraft.

But it is a service increment and so it’s fair that travellers who want the seats, be prepared to pay for them, the airline said.

Readers who wrote in to applaud the move say they don’t mind paying, especially for long-haul flights.

If you’re paying more than US$1,500 for a return fare, what’s another US$100?

They know how frustrating it is to request for the seats, knowing that unless you are a frequent flier, chances are you will not get it.

At least now if they don’t get it, they take comfort knowing that the person who does, is paying for it.

Still, some feel a flat fee is not a good idea and suggest the charge be pegged at a percentage of the air fare.

Then there are those who question the need to charge in the first place.

After all, people who fly SIA are already paying premium fares. Surely the airline can give out the seats on a first-come-first-served basis and not charge for them.

This is going to hurt the airline’s image, said one reader who e-mailed The Straits Times.

“SIA is going the LCC way” he said, referring to the practice by low-cost carriers to charge for everything from food and drinks, to check-in baggage.

With the global financial crisis hammering the air travel business, full-service carriers in the United States have also started doing the same.

SIA is not going down that path, said spokesman Stephen Forshaw.

Still, the airline did not rule out the possibility that other seats may be available for purchase down the line.

So watch this space.....