75Es to get flat-beds in J
Nov 5, 2012, 4:02 pm
#17
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I doubt it. There's still only 16 seats up front, and DL does a good job of selling those seats for a premium price. There's usually only a few (if any) seats available for complimentary upgrades. Also DL doesn't open any upgrade inventory on these flights, all sell tickets up front until the GA starts to clear upgrades just prior to boarding. DL doesn't really gain anything by leaving their top customers in the back with empty seats up front.
Nov 5, 2012, 4:11 pm
#18
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I understand your point that the equipment is 75E, but the press release speaks to conversions for the 757 transcon fleet specifically, not all aircraft of the type.
Extracts from today's press release, emphasis mine.
All of Delta's Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft serving these transcontinental markets will offer the flatbed seats over approximately the following 24 months.
Sixteen full flat-bed seats on the updated transcontinental 757 fleet...
Prior to the full cabin modification and by next summer, the transcon 757 fleet...
Maybe the rest of the 757 Business Elites will get upgraded on a different timeline. Maybe they'll go away and DL will upgauge to 767s or drop the routes. Maybe they had the staff who normally do promo T&Cs write this press release and they've done another bang-up job! I look forward to clarification, a broader press release - or the strings of invective that will come when some people here figure out that their BE seats really will still be 150-degree recliners.
Extracts from today's press release, emphasis mine.
All of Delta's Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft serving these transcontinental markets will offer the flatbed seats over approximately the following 24 months.
Sixteen full flat-bed seats on the updated transcontinental 757 fleet...
Prior to the full cabin modification and by next summer, the transcon 757 fleet...
Maybe the rest of the 757 Business Elites will get upgraded on a different timeline. Maybe they'll go away and DL will upgauge to 767s or drop the routes. Maybe they had the staff who normally do promo T&Cs write this press release and they've done another bang-up job! I look forward to clarification, a broader press release - or the strings of invective that will come when some people here figure out that their BE seats really will still be 150-degree recliners.
Nov 5, 2012, 4:17 pm
#20
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Nov 5, 2012, 5:01 pm
#21
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It usually phrased as "protecting the revenue premium" or something (ie: don't give away something if it means people won't pay for it), but given that many of these flights go out with J sold out or nearly so, the revenue premium is probably pretty well protected already.
Nov 5, 2012, 6:52 pm
#22
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It usually phrased as "protecting the revenue premium" or something (ie: don't give away something if it means people won't pay for it), but given that many of these flights go out with J sold out or nearly so, the revenue premium is probably pretty well protected already.
Nov 6, 2012, 12:44 am
#23
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Seems like 752s will be configured with the 764 type seats? Too bad no 767 on SFO-JFK route, all in JFK-LAX and JFK-SEA
Nov 6, 2012, 3:09 am
#24
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Problem is with the 757 - there is no good way to have a 1-1 BE cabin without compromising the economics. Between doors 1 and 2, there is no way they would be able to get more than 10-12 BE seats instead of 16 in that space. If they extend BE past the 2nd door, they will start messing with EC and Y seats counts....
Nov 6, 2012, 4:51 am
#25
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The BE seats on the ex-TWA 75E's are actually leased. Yes, the seats are leased.
Could it be that the lease term is expiring and DL has decided to invest in a more competitive product rather than recommitting to the tired old recliners?
Could it be that the lease term is expiring and DL has decided to invest in a more competitive product rather than recommitting to the tired old recliners?
Nov 6, 2012, 6:22 am
#26
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As an example, forcing us to use a SWU with a K+ fare would only be valuable if it could be confirmed at the time of booking. Otherwise, you are back to the gate lottery. And while under this scenario you would technically be competing with fewer people for upgrades on any particular flight, I'm not sure the upgrade chances would greatly improve. From a benefits/customer relationship standpoint, there seems to be more downside than upside for them to do this.
Nov 6, 2012, 7:22 am
#27
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The Thompson Vantage would fit 16 seats in an alternating 2-2/1-1 layout in 5 rows. The article says they will be in a 2-2 layout, so I'm not sure if the seats will be Thompson Vantage. As I stated earlier, a possibility could be the B/E Aerospace Diamond like what is on UA's PMCO 752s, which fit in a 2-2 layout on the 757.
Nov 6, 2012, 7:27 am
#28
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The Thompson Vantage would fit 16 seats in an alternating 2-2/1-1 layout in 5 rows. The article says they will be in a 2-2 layout, so I'm not sure if the seats will be Thompson Vantage. As I stated earlier, a possibility could be the B/E Aerospace Diamond like what is on UA's PMCO 752s, which fit in a 2-2 layout on the 757.
Nov 6, 2012, 7:55 am
#29
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So, if they're adding more capacity, why bother taking away the comp upgrade when it's hard to get anyways? All that would do would further diminish benefits.
As an example, forcing us to use a SWU with a K+ fare would only be valuable if it could be confirmed at the time of booking. Otherwise, you are back to the gate lottery.
As an example, forcing us to use a SWU with a K+ fare would only be valuable if it could be confirmed at the time of booking. Otherwise, you are back to the gate lottery.
Of course, that's where B6+EMS starts looking a lot better than DL+EC.
Nov 11, 2012, 2:50 pm
#30
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The article states they will be in a 2-2 layout. I'm not sure if the Thompson Vantage will fit on the 757 such layout. Perhaps they will be the B/E Aerospace Diamond, similar to what is on UA's PMCO 752s.
Our flat-bed seats on the 75E fleet will be a version of the Parallel Diamond that’s exclusive to Delta. The seat is manufactured by B/E Aerospace.
It's nice to read that the 757 JFK-SEA/SFO/LAX transcons will be fitted with lie-flats within 24 months, but this falls well short of committing to lie-flats on all the 757 intercon routes, ie the select South America and Europe routes.In addition to transcon routes, the 75E fleet also operates from JFK to destinations in Europe and Africa as well as ATL to BSB. The entire fleet of 18 aircraft will be configured with new flat-bed seats, new Economy seats, new IFE, updated finishes, updated lavs and new full RGB+W LED mood lighting, consistent with the lighting system that will be delivered on the 737-900ER fleet.
I'm surprised that DL is going to be stepping back from its policy of having direct aisle access for all new BE flat bed seats. Claiming that feature for all longhaul aircraft would be good marketing and allow for some straightforward ads without having to list exceptions.Delta’s entire widebody international fleet will feature flat-bed seats with direct aisle access. The 75E fleet will feature flat-bed seats with a step-over for the 8 window seats. Unfortunately a direct aisle access configuration on a narrowbody would result in a significant reduction in seat count.