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More Passenger Legroom Coming on New Alaska Airlines Aircraft
Fresh in my inbox:
Carrier is North America Launch Customer for Innovative, Award-Winning Seat Design
5/8/2012 12:58:08 AM
SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines and Recaro Aircraft Seating announced today that the carrier is the North America launch customer for an innovative main cabin seat that provides more legroom for air travelers. The award-winning seat will be installed on all of Alaska Airlines' 22 new Boeing 737-900ERs scheduled for delivery in fall 2012 through 2014.
"Recaro's clever design includes a comfortable yet slimmer seatback and bottom and a literature pocket located above the tray table. That means our main cabin customers will enjoy more than an inch of extra legroom with our existing spacing between each row of seats," said Joe Sprague,
Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing. "The new seats add to a very special onboard experience that all of our customers flying Alaska's new 737-900ERs will enjoy, including Boeing's Sky Interior—with its improved lighting and sculpted overhead bins that create a more spacious cabin—onboard Wi-Fi, Starbucks coffee, premium Washington wines and delicious meals for purchase, as well as our renowned personal service."
Alaska Airlines' version of Recaro's seat includes custom enhanced-comfort cushions, a six-way adjustable headrest and the carrier's standard three inches of recline. The lighter seat will save an estimated 8,000 gallons of fuel annually per aircraft. Alaska's first class cabin on its 737-900ERs will feature a different premium Recaro seat with five inches of recline, an articulating seat bottom and a six-way adjustable headrest.
The Germany-based manufacturer's BL3520 seat model won Europe's 2011 Crystal Cabin Award and the 2012 red dot design award.
United757
May 8, 12, 3:53 am
Well, crap. Isn't the BL3520 the Lufthansa NEK seat? It's basically paper thin, and like sitting on a park bench.
At least F sounds like it's getting better seats.
beckoa
May 8, 12, 4:06 am
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Well, crap. Isn't the BL3520 the Lufthansa NEK seat? It's basically paper thin, and like sitting on a park bench.
At least F sounds like it's getting better seats.
That's what it sounds like...same ones that Luftansa just placed a large order for...
Those seats suck, now you will not only have a sore butt after a transcontinental flight but a sore back. Remember, LH flights within Europe are usually under 2 hours, so it is fine, but the 739ERs are going to be put on 5+ hours flights most of the time.
I flew in this seat on CPH-FRA and the flight was only 45 minutes, so it was okay in that case.
I'll take the lousy sCO seats over those seats any day.
Their press release has pictures of the new coach and first class seats.
And the real reason for the seat selection:
"According to the airline, the seat will save an estimated 8,000 gallons of fuel annually per aircraft."
“Furthermore, Alaska Airlines ordered the BL3520 including the Recaro modular comfort kit – with additional features such as comfort cushions, comfort dress covers as well as six-way adjustable headrests – thus, it is setting a standard for comfort in the US market,”
Perhaps this is an upgrade from the standard LH style park bench?
"Alaska’s first class cabin on its 737-900ERs will feature another premium Recaro seat, the CL4400, which offers passengers a variety of comfort features including a 5in recline, an articulating seat bottom and a six-way adjustable headrest."
It looks comfy enough in the picture. I wonder if they would opt for the foot rests?
EIPremier
May 8, 12, 1:11 pm
The F seats look better than the existing AS 737NG F seats and appear more similar to domestic F on CO, UA,AA etc. 5" of recline is NOT very much, and actually is what the standard recline of Y seats used to be. If passengers like the new F seats, maybe AS would consider installing them on existing 800s as well, for the sake of parts commonality and having a consistent F product across the long-haul fleet? Also, I don't know if the 739ER configuration has been finalized, but the one I saw in the fleet section of the website listed 20 F seats.
The Y seats I'm not sure about, having never experienced them on LH, and not knowing what difference this "comfort package" would make. The Y legroom on the 738 is fairly decent as it is, so I expect it'll be similar on the new aircraft, but the skeptic in be wonders if they are using the thinner seats as a justification to drop pitch by an inch on the new aircraft, which of course, is exactly what WN did.
Yes, AS, I know, I should get an iPad. But soon you're going to be the only carrier out there who doesn't have power in any of their F cabins.
The iPad is actually perfect for flights with no in-seat power. It lasts a good 7-8 hours under normal use, and can be easily stowed in the seat-back pocket when not in use.
Once on a DL flight I ended up in a window seat next to a guy with a 17" laptop, complete with giant power brick and tethered mouse. During the meal, he managed to spill his wine in my lap as he juggled all his cords around. After eating, he studied an Excel spreadsheet for a while before donning his noise-canceling headphones and a sleep-mask, leaving his unwieldy workstation up as a chinese wall between me and the lav.
Their press release has pictures of the new coach and first class seats.
And the real reason for the seat selection:
"According to the airline, the seat will save an estimated 8,000 gallons of fuel annually per aircraft."
If they could only slim down the passengers, they will save even more on fuel. :)
beckoa
May 8, 12, 3:43 pm
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I'm good with USB power, but not AC.
Can get USB power from digeplayer .@:-)
baliktad
May 8, 12, 3:49 pm
Can get USB power from digeplayer .@:-)
Really? I only tried one once and was so disappointed in the user experience I have declined them ever since. If it's enough to recharge a phone I might reconsider though.
Carfield
May 8, 12, 4:36 pm
I am disappointed that the new 739-ERs will not feature any power outlets in F or Y. Those are a "must" item these days especially AS features no in-seat entertainment system, and the minimal that they can do is to install USB power port so people can power their own devices.
I flew those LH slim seats before and it felt fine for a short 45 minutes hope intra-Germany, but not sure about a six hours flight from Seattle to Honolulu.
Carfield
Eastbay1K
May 8, 12, 4:41 pm
The Y seats I'm not sure about, having never experienced them on LH...
They were perfectly fine for 40 minute and under flights (where LH managed to serve the front cabin a fairly hearty snack and a beverage service ^ ) I wasn't in them long enough for a more comprehensive opinion, but they didn't seem "bad."
beckoa
May 8, 12, 4:55 pm
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Can get USB power from digeplayer .@:-)
Really? I only tried one once and was so disappointed in the user experience I have declined them ever since. If it's enough to recharge a phone I might reconsider though.
The newest 7" screens have a USB port on them that I routinely use to rejuice my blackberry ;)
jackal
May 8, 12, 5:44 pm
If they could only slim down the passengers, they will save even more on fuel. :)
I think that's what they're doing with catering in F in recent years.
Really? I only tried one once and was so disappointed in the user experience I have declined them ever since. If it's enough to recharge a phone I might reconsider though.
It is.
EIPremier
May 8, 12, 8:55 pm
I am disappointed that the new 739-ERs will not feature any power outlets in F or Y. Those are a "must" item these days especially AS features no in-seat entertainment system
The article didn't mention anything about powerports, affirmative or negative. However, I'd guess if they were going to install them, they probably would have mentioned it.
I remember back from 7/8 years ago that the -800s were originally all supposed to be delivered with powerports but apparently it was nixed somewhere along the way.
baliktad
May 8, 12, 9:32 pm
I am disappointed that the new 739-ERs will not feature any power outlets in F or Y. Those are a "must" item these days especially AS features no in-seat entertainment system, and the minimal that they can do is to install USB power port so people can power their own devices.
Here's what I said a few weeks ago about in-seat IFE. I think the argument applies the same in at-seat power, of the USB or AC variety:
AS has announced no plans. [...] I think AS believes that seatback IFE is just a fixed cost and permanent weight addition. With more and more people bringing their own iDevices/laptops/whatever, AS has even less justification to bolt in permanent, expensive entertainment systems. Even just on a few planes is a long shot because AS likes to shift equipment around at will, and would never be able to promise a route would have IFE without severely limiting their own flexibility.
In short: high fixed cost, no ability to market/monetize, shrinking audience. Don't count on it anytime soon.
Basically, if you can't guarantee it on a flight, your ability to monetize it is very limited. AS would rather save the money/space/weight than offer a perk. Their game is to offer fewer amenities at a lower price than the legacies, especially when they know WN is poised to enter their Hawaiian cash cow market.
Carfield
May 8, 12, 10:40 pm
I actually think the situation is different between powerport/USB drive and IFE entertainment units. To some extent, passengers are increasingly bring their own tablets especially iPads, and I personally use an iphone as my individual entertainment devices. For a short two to three hours hops up and down the coast, it is no problem, but when these 739ERs will be used on flights longer than four hours, it will be nice to have a power outlet to keep battery charged on these devices. It is actually more important since Alaska decides against individual entertainment units or any entertainment options. Alaska needs to remember that it is no longer an up and down the coast airline, and its Hawaiian network and transcontinental networks feature flights longer than five fours. You can only avoid these amenities to certain extent, unless it strives to become an ultra-LCC like Allegiant Air and Spirit.
Power ports and outlets will become more important in the decades to come and I feel that Alaska has lost a good opportunity to really "enhance" passenger amenities. (Let me frank - these slim seats save Alaska money and do not increase passengers' comfort. Who knows how many additional seats Alaska can add on the 739ERs because of these slim seats?)
Just my personal opinion... since I sort of give up on Alaska years ago, this matters less to me but I am sure many passengers will appreciate the availability of power ports.
Carfield
baliktad
May 9, 12, 12:06 am
You can only avoid these amenities to certain extent, unless it strives to become an ultra-LCC like Allegiant Air and Spirit.
Power ports and outlets will become more important in the decades to come and I feel that Alaska has lost a good opportunity to really "enhance" passenger amenities. (Let me frank - these slim seats save Alaska money and do not increase passengers' comfort.
You've got it spot on. Alaska competes by offering lower fares, not more amenities. The seats were definitely selected for their cost-saving impact, not passenger comfort. Power charging and in-seat entertainment are just fixed weight and dollar costs. From what we've seen, AS really believes that it will make the same amount of money whether it has power ports or not, so don't expect them any time soon.
sxf24
May 9, 12, 7:53 am
You've got it spot on. Alaska competes by offering lower fares, not more amenities. The seats were definitely selected for their cost-saving impact, not passenger comfort. Power charging and in-seat entertainment are just fixed weight and dollar costs. From what we've seen, AS really believes that it will make the same amount of money whether it has power ports or not, so don't expect them any time soon.
I think AS has demonstrated it can make more money without power ports. So far, no airline has demonstrated that power ports can help them make money. In fact, the airlines with the widest deployment of power ports domestically are the most unprofitable.
Crzn33k
May 9, 12, 11:29 am
They were perfectly fine for 40 minute and under flights (where LH managed to serve the front cabin a fairly hearty snack and a beverage service ^ ) I wasn't in them long enough for a more comprehensive opinion, but they didn't seem "bad."
The seats that AS will be getting have a bit more padding the the ones LH have
Eastbay1K
May 9, 12, 12:05 pm
The seats that AS will be getting have a bit more padding the the ones LH have
On the passengers, or on the seats? :eek::o ;)
Crzn33k
May 9, 12, 12:38 pm
On the passengers, or on the seats? :eek::o ;)
Both but I was talking about the seats !
apodo77
May 9, 12, 1:23 pm
“Furthermore, Alaska Airlines ordered the BL3520 including the Recaro modular comfort kit – with additional features such as comfort cushions, comfort dress covers as well as six-way adjustable headrests – thus, it is setting a standard for comfort in the US market,”
Perhaps this is an upgrade from the standard LH style park bench?
"Alaska’s first class cabin on its 737-900ERs will feature another premium Recaro seat, the CL4400, which offers passengers a variety of comfort features including a 5in recline, an articulating seat bottom and a six-way adjustable headrest."
It looks comfy enough in the picture. I wonder if they would opt for the foot rests?
My take is these will not be the same exact seats LH is using and they will indeed have some extra added comfort to them based on your highlighted portion.
No one else seems to be reading it that way though besides me and you.
beckoa
May 14, 12, 12:19 am
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Another perspective:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ronjudd/2018192478_judd13.html
Tuna-Can Luxury: Alaska Airlines will add an extra inch of leg room between seats of its new 737s. Mr. Wrap, not one to hold grudges, appreciates the gesture, even if it is literally the least the airline could do to remediate decades of knowing and willing physical torture.