Long-legged airline passengers will have to pay for extra legroom

Tall airline passengers who ask for extra legroom when flying economy are to start paying £40 a time for the privilege. Air France today became the first to introduce a supplement for the prized seats next to emergency exits or at the front of rows.
These are the ones without other seats immediately in front, meaning long legs can be stretched out comfortably.
Until now, experienced passengers have often been able to reserve the seats through nothing more than a polite request at check in.
Now, however, they will be sold off, with surcharges payable online or in phone bookings.
'It will be a small charge to have to pay for extra legroom,' said an Air France spokesman, saying the £40 will first be applied to long-haul flights.
Frequent fliers with the company's Flying Blue card will still get the seats at standard price once they reach Gold or Platinum status, the spokesman added.
The charge has already been levied on flights from France to Canada or the United States, and will now be expanded to the rest of the long-haul network.
Carriers including Air Singapore have also just started similar schemes on long-haul routes.
The idea is likely to be copied by many other airlines, as their industry struggles in the harsh economic climate.
Last month, the Air France-KLM group warned shareholders it would seek to cut costs by around pounds £1 billion over the next five years.
The number of seats with extra room varies from only four in a small A-330 regional jet ,to up to 37 in a Boeing 747.
Air France hopes that firms who are unwilling to pay for business class will buy the extra legroom seat for their executives.
Although it is often tall passengers who ask for extra legroom on flights, most people express dissatisfaction with the space they are given in economy cabins.
Awareness of illnesses including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) has raised awareness of how dangerous it can be to spend hours on a plane with your legs scrunched up behind another seat.
The extra legroom prize supplement follows numerous money-making schemes introduced by airlines, including charging extra for food and drinks, and even for blankets and headphones to enjoy in-flight entertainment.
As well as the credit crunch, airlines have reported vast falls in profits caused by a number of factors including the fear of terrorist attack and fuel prize rises.