It is adding $10 to $30 to its highest fares for the right to choose a seat early on its flights.
According to BACK Aviation, an industry consulting group, US Airways resisted lowering its highest fares on competing routes from Philadelphia until the last minute, still charging more than $1,100 for walk-up fares to Phoenix a week ago.
British Airways is overhauling its first-class cabins later this year, while Lufthansa has begun a five-year, €150 million, or $210 million, investment in lounges for the exclusive use of travellers who have shelled out for its highest fares.
Its highest fare includes an empty middle seat, access to Lufthansa's lounges, and à la carte meals.
Its highest fare is £19 one-way, which applies to any duration, while its lowest fare is £7.50 for a 24-hour ticket.
In the public mind it became associated with delays, cramped trains and high fares.
They face a potential combination of crowded flights, high fares and labor disruptions.
Still, Mr. Stimpfle says, the top complaint has to do with high fares.
Relatively high fares are the least of a traveler's worries, though.
His fight against high fares in the transatlantic pitch greatly helped by U.S. press.
