New York CNN —Spirit Airlines, the ultra-low cost carrier known for charging bargain-hunting passengers for anything and everything, is introducing business class seating. Farther back in the plane Spirit will also allow passengers to pay more for seats in rows where the middle seat will not be sold. Spirit looked at merging, first with another ultra low cost carrier, Frontier Airlines, and then with JetBlue Airways. Last week Southwest Airlines, the nation’s older lower fare carrier, announced it would end its open seating policy it has used throughout its history and let passengers reserve seats for the first time. However, Southwest has not announced any plans to offer wider, business class seats.

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Persons: “, we’ve, ”, Ted Christie, – CNN’s Erika Tulfo Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit Airlines, United, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines Locations: New York, ”, Southwest