Last Class
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
Last Class
I've not been to the States for a while but this does not surprise.
'Last class': Airlines introduce new flight class that's more budget than economy
A couple of weeks ago a US Senator was was promoting a law that would compel US carriers to offer a minimum seat pitch and width. As if ...
'Last class': Airlines introduce new flight class that's more budget than economy
A couple of weeks ago a US Senator was was promoting a law that would compel US carriers to offer a minimum seat pitch and width. As if ...
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Edinburgh
Age: 39
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Haven't these existed for years?
BA, for example, have been charging for seat allocation for years and now charge you to change seats at the time of online check in if you're on a 0 baggage fare. IB wanted to charge me to change a seat at the time of online check in recently on MAD-HAV, yet the part of my journey on IB Express were free to change to whatever I wanted!
Loads of other Airlines have had 0 baggage fares, paid for seat selection, non refundable, non changeable, non upgradable fares for years, even in the USA. The traditional ticket desk at airports has vanished in some cases, to be replaced by a phone, with many services, such as excess baggage collection, being moved to the kiosk or check in desk. None of this is particularly new, this article is only 2 months old, but these things have been around for much longer than that!
BA, for example, have been charging for seat allocation for years and now charge you to change seats at the time of online check in if you're on a 0 baggage fare. IB wanted to charge me to change a seat at the time of online check in recently on MAD-HAV, yet the part of my journey on IB Express were free to change to whatever I wanted!
Loads of other Airlines have had 0 baggage fares, paid for seat selection, non refundable, non changeable, non upgradable fares for years, even in the USA. The traditional ticket desk at airports has vanished in some cases, to be replaced by a phone, with many services, such as excess baggage collection, being moved to the kiosk or check in desk. None of this is particularly new, this article is only 2 months old, but these things have been around for much longer than that!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
Age: 69
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The FAA, and other regulators, do set maximum seat numbers for commercial aircraft. Not individual seat width and density, but maximum seat numbers.
Seems to be working quite well, except for those 'of size' who don't fit in a seat that is comfortable for me.
If you don't like it, buy two seats. Simples.
Seems to be working quite well, except for those 'of size' who don't fit in a seat that is comfortable for me.
If you don't like it, buy two seats. Simples.
It has been around in some form for quite a while. Some airlines limit seat selection to less desirable rows and reduce the baggage allowance for those on the ultra cheap tickets.
Refunds and alterations to a booking can also be prohibitively expensive and upgrades using miles may not be available or require many more than a regular ticket.
Airbus considered an 11 across configuration for the A380 with a middle seat having 2 seats on either side of it, known as the "double excuse me" they could be sold at a lower price.
Premium economy is becoming more widely available for those who are willing to pay a bit more but can't stretch to the 4-5 times price multiple for business class. Typically priced around double to normal economy for a better seat and a nicer meal, on a direct flight with a top tier airline it can get close to the business fare on a secondary airline with an intermediate stop.
Refunds and alterations to a booking can also be prohibitively expensive and upgrades using miles may not be available or require many more than a regular ticket.
Airbus considered an 11 across configuration for the A380 with a middle seat having 2 seats on either side of it, known as the "double excuse me" they could be sold at a lower price.
Premium economy is becoming more widely available for those who are willing to pay a bit more but can't stretch to the 4-5 times price multiple for business class. Typically priced around double to normal economy for a better seat and a nicer meal, on a direct flight with a top tier airline it can get close to the business fare on a secondary airline with an intermediate stop.
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
It is interesting to see that the Americans appear to be behind the European LCCs on this.
Metro man having just travelled on Singapore Air Premium Economy - I agree! Good all round for the long journey from UK to Oz.
Metro man having just travelled on Singapore Air Premium Economy - I agree! Good all round for the long journey from UK to Oz.
Unfortunately premium economy has limited seats and SQ don't offer mileage redemptions for that class of travel. Also as the cabin fills up quite quickly this pushes the fares up and there may be little difference between an expensive P/E fare and a cheap business class one one the same flight.
Now we could be looking at three levels of economy class,
Lowest - with most restricted tickets, poorest seats, reduced baggage allowance and possibly no meals.
Normal - with the usual conditions.
Premium - with better seats, food, baggage allowance and ticket flexibility. It could replace business class on shorter flights where a lie flat bed isn't needed, but would still provide differentiation from regular economy class.
The B777 could use 10 across seating at the back, 9 across for the regular tickets, 8 across in premium, 6 across in business and 4 across in first.
I remember when business class first started as an interim step between first and economy class, for those who wanted more than economy but couldn't afford to sit at the front.
Now we could be looking at three levels of economy class,
Lowest - with most restricted tickets, poorest seats, reduced baggage allowance and possibly no meals.
Normal - with the usual conditions.
Premium - with better seats, food, baggage allowance and ticket flexibility. It could replace business class on shorter flights where a lie flat bed isn't needed, but would still provide differentiation from regular economy class.
The B777 could use 10 across seating at the back, 9 across for the regular tickets, 8 across in premium, 6 across in business and 4 across in first.
I remember when business class first started as an interim step between first and economy class, for those who wanted more than economy but couldn't afford to sit at the front.
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Soon to be out of the EU.
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Been around for years. AC Tango - I used that about 10 years ago. When TED came back to UniTED the economy service was the same. It's just further unbundling giving those who want to pay a choice, and those who just want to get from A to B the chance to save.
The US3 are seeing success in a la carts charging at Sprit (with lower fares) and VX/B6 with similar or better hard products and thus adjusting to the competition.
The US3 are seeing success in a la carts charging at Sprit (with lower fares) and VX/B6 with similar or better hard products and thus adjusting to the competition.
Last Class
I thought that United introduced "Last Class" in to it Business Class many years ago. When the CC made it very clear that you, the customer, were in their way.
