Time To Make Money

[PHL]

Switching the shuttle-only Airbus configuration to a consistant F/Y config across the fleet has allowed the airline to be much more flexible in equipment scheduling. Some of the shuttles used during the week can be diverted to weekend leisure flying routes rather than having to be chained down to BOS/LGA/DCA routes. This was actually a good idea.

Having an actual F prouct also offers an advantage over AA (RJ's only) and DL (all coach 737-300s) on the same routes.

FYI - according to usairways.com, coach seat pitch on the A319/320 is 31-33", depending where you are. E170 seat pitch is 32-33", and CRJ700 is 31". Not much difference. It's the narrower cabin that gives the more cramped feed, but from the opinions I've read of the E170, most people are happy with it.

 

[bagstacker]

' Cut the price of first so that people will pay for it. Fill it with paying customers. No one will pay the kind of price US typically charges for first, it isnt worth it. At prices like at DL, people would buy first. There arent enough people willing to buy $2500 walk up tickets anymore. So the airline tries to sell some at $2500 and some at $29. It isnt working. They need to sell the plane at a reasonable price, including a reasonable premium for first. And provide service that people will pay for it. Deltas new fare structure looks to do that.

[post="236188"][/post]​

on aa at least, f/c is usually filled with upgrades and non-revs - i hope the new fare structure sticks. it will hurt revenue at first - maybe - but it will produce more revenue in the long run. the old legacy business model that is fixated on hair-splitting yield management is a failed model. management is constantly telling us that change is inevitable - in this case they should take their own advice and embrace change 😉

 

[Hope777]

whlinder, why cant you replace two or three rows of F with say 4 rows of Y?


On the B757's we went from 24 F/C seats down to 8, a reduction 4 rows.
In Coach, we went from 158 - 185 Y seats, an addition of 4 1/2 rows but an additional 11 seats over all but 27 more coach seats. People buy coach not F/C.

Additional, why havent we removed F/C seats on the A321. On my last trip it was half full and with families that were placed there so they could sit together with the young kids.

 

[JS]

2 rows of F for 4 rows of Y would be very, very tight Y seating.

3 rows of F for 4 rows of Y might work, but then you would have no First Class remaining at all on the 737-300.

 

[Art at ISP]

Hope,

Most of the time the A321 is full in first. I was on a 319 on Tuesday LGA-MSY and there were only two of us up front-and I think the other one was the kid of an employee. Even the FA told me she thought F was booked full.

I would have little or no problem with reconfiguring SOME aircraft like the Boeings to have smaller F or all coach IF the legroom were added. I have been lucky when I have to fly coach to be able to get an exit row, which makes it bearable--one time I was in a regular row and all I could think about was being thankful it was an hour flight.

The Airbus should remain as is--especially since they are used for longer hauls and transcons. With the F service the way it is, it really does not cost THAT much more, and right now adding capacity is a questionable move.

We who fly EVERY week DO usually pay more for our tickets, although occasionally we take advantage of the artificially depressed prices. With a RATIONAL fare schedule, I am almost sure that the average price paid on any given flight would go up. The company needs to market to the business traveler, not the once a year liesure customer.

DL is on the right track, with the massive changes to fares. While most pundits are saying they will cost more precious revenue, I think the opposite is true over a longer term. With REASONABLE fares, you will get more people who are driving or using the train back in the air.

Who knows how it will shake out, but I do feel F should remain as is or close to it for now--that's how you differentiate yourself from the B6's and Greyhound Airs.

My best to you all......

 

[resqicunurse]

The lesson that US should learn, IMHO, is that:
People buying F fares are good.
People will pay more for F if it is not too much more than coach, especially for longer flights.
Elites that spend a lot are good and should be upgraded when they are on expensive fares.
Elites that fly everywhere on junk fares can be replaced and are worse than regular leisure travellers because they take up space in F.

US should (IMHO):
Shrink the F cabin on every plane except perhaps to keep a small subfleet with the current F layout for transcons/midcons, which have the best chance of paid F.
Upgrade elites based on fare paid.
Improve the experience in transcon F.
Improve the economy product for elites.

Sadly, those things take money and people at CCY to research and make smart decisions. US doesn't have either of those things.

[post="236373"][/post]​

Well said...! As a Silver (soon Gold) preferred, I enjoy the relative ease of getting an upgrade, but on longer flights I always buy a B/Y fare to ensure the upgrade. Were this benefit not available, I would buy the $199 ticket BOS-SAN; with this privilege, I routinely buy the $700-900 ticket. F should be improved & should be sold at a reasonable price. I will pay up to $1000 for a transcon F flight, but I will not pay $2500-3000....that's ludicrous.