Economy only flights - International
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Santiago
Programs: LATAM Black
Posts: 72
Again, you're not being specific enough. I bet the economy only flights were on LATAM Argentina (the airline at the EZE end), while the flights premium bizz or premium eocnomy were on LATAM Chile (the airline at the SCL end). You just keep saying "LAN flights", but there are multiple airlines within LAN, and ignoring them just leads to more confusion.
I don't see why you make such big distinction between domestic flights and such short international flights. This is common all over the world. USA airlines run economy-only regional jet flights across the board into Canada just as they do within the USA, for example. In fact, that's been the topic of another thread here in the LATAM forum, about LAN discontinuing its JFK-YYZ (New York-Toronto) flight, and its partner AA only running an economy-only flight on that route, which is clearly international.
Meanwhile, as someone who has flown intra-Argentina a few times and expects to again, I'm more concerned about why LATAM Argentina can't put premium economy on its intra-Argentina flights either, when its main competitor Aerolineas Argentinas has them on its intra-Argentina flights. (But I can't can't earn LAN kms and reset my LAN km expiration by flying Aerolineas Argentinas.)
I don't see why you make such big distinction between domestic flights and such short international flights. This is common all over the world. USA airlines run economy-only regional jet flights across the board into Canada just as they do within the USA, for example. In fact, that's been the topic of another thread here in the LATAM forum, about LAN discontinuing its JFK-YYZ (New York-Toronto) flight, and its partner AA only running an economy-only flight on that route, which is clearly international.
Meanwhile, as someone who has flown intra-Argentina a few times and expects to again, I'm more concerned about why LATAM Argentina can't put premium economy on its intra-Argentina flights either, when its main competitor Aerolineas Argentinas has them on its intra-Argentina flights. (But I can't can't earn LAN kms and reset my LAN km expiration by flying Aerolineas Argentinas.)
And yes, I know that some domestic flights (be that in Argentina, Chile or Brazil) are longer than some international flights, however, it worries me when I see more and more flights between two capitals being served with economy only flights. The upgrade benefit loses a lot of value.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
You would lose that bet. It was LA 442 - operated by LATAM Chile. I don't understand why you think it matters whether it is LAN AR or CL? I don't think that makes any difference at all.
And yes, I know that some domestic flights (be that in Argentina, Chile or Brazil) are longer than some international flights, however, it worries me when I see more and more flights between two capitals being served with economy only flights. The upgrade benefit loses a lot of value.
And yes, I know that some domestic flights (be that in Argentina, Chile or Brazil) are longer than some international flights, however, it worries me when I see more and more flights between two capitals being served with economy only flights. The upgrade benefit loses a lot of value.
And if AA can run economy only between New York City (the biggest city in the US) and Toronto (the biggest city in Canada), how is that so different than economy only between Buenos Aires and Santiago?
Similarly, SAS put me (with business class tickets) on economy-only planes between Copenhagen and Oslo. Again, two capital cities, but short flights. (I did get one of the first three rows, but it didn't seem all that different than the other rows.)
In other words, this is a worldwide trend, not necessarily specific to LATAM.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Santiago
Programs: LATAM Black
Posts: 72
Sdsearch, my point and question was whether this is a trend we can expect to see more of on LATAM flights. Whether or not it is normal in US or Europe is not really much of my interest.
Do you have any insight to the LATAM strategy in this aspect?
Do you have any insight to the LATAM strategy in this aspect?
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
There are two competing trends at work, and it's hard to say which will win in the long run on whatever routes you care about:
1. To add more premium economy to shorter-haul planes.
2. To use whatever shorter-haul planes they have available, even if economy-only, for shorter international routes.
Neither of these seems a plan to specifically make capital-to-capital economy only. It's just that I bet the planners of what plane flies where don't put into the equation whether they're flying capital-to-capital or not, just the distance and the planes that are available.
Now, what the plan is for adding more premium economy, that I'm not clear on, especially as it applies to the zillions of LATAM subsidiaries, each of which have their own fleets. LATAM never seems to explain that clearly, they hype "premium economy' on their webiste, with no mention of how that may or may not apply to each of the LATAM subsidiaries having different fleets.
LATAM promotional hype pretends its one airline, but LATAM in-air reality is that it's a bunch of loosely-connected airlines.
1. To add more premium economy to shorter-haul planes.
2. To use whatever shorter-haul planes they have available, even if economy-only, for shorter international routes.
Neither of these seems a plan to specifically make capital-to-capital economy only. It's just that I bet the planners of what plane flies where don't put into the equation whether they're flying capital-to-capital or not, just the distance and the planes that are available.
Now, what the plan is for adding more premium economy, that I'm not clear on, especially as it applies to the zillions of LATAM subsidiaries, each of which have their own fleets. LATAM never seems to explain that clearly, they hype "premium economy' on their webiste, with no mention of how that may or may not apply to each of the LATAM subsidiaries having different fleets.
LATAM promotional hype pretends its one airline, but LATAM in-air reality is that it's a bunch of loosely-connected airlines.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,629
LA is showing (out in the distance) only A321s on the SCL/EZE route (save the daily widebody), so these are new(ish) and apparently delivered with Y only. Even a SCL/LIM on a 321 is Y only.
I am disappointed in this development, as EZE is generally as least as convenient as AEP is for me, and even if I don't care about less than 2 hours of opulent splendor in the air, as a non-status flyer on Oneworld (my mileage bank is with partner AS), I can't even buy my way into premium airport ground support (check in, excellent lounge) with a Y only aircraft.
I am disappointed in this development, as EZE is generally as least as convenient as AEP is for me, and even if I don't care about less than 2 hours of opulent splendor in the air, as a non-status flyer on Oneworld (my mileage bank is with partner AS), I can't even buy my way into premium airport ground support (check in, excellent lounge) with a Y only aircraft.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,629
The website currently shows this:
Esta clase se encuentra disponible en nuestros aviones Airbus 318, Airbus 319 y Airbus 320 que operan las rutas entre:
Santiago - Buenos Aires
Santiago - Montevideo
Santiago - Sao Paulo
Santiago - Lima
Lima - Bogotá
Lima - Sao Paulo
Quito - Lima
Quito - Miami
Guayaquil - Lima
Guayaquil - Santiago
___________________________________
Of course, this is inaccurate, as EZE/LIM has a W cabin on the 319/320s.
Esta clase se encuentra disponible en nuestros aviones Airbus 318, Airbus 319 y Airbus 320 que operan las rutas entre:
Santiago - Buenos Aires
Santiago - Montevideo
Santiago - Sao Paulo
Santiago - Lima
Lima - Bogotá
Lima - Sao Paulo
Quito - Lima
Quito - Miami
Guayaquil - Lima
Guayaquil - Santiago
___________________________________
Of course, this is inaccurate, as EZE/LIM has a W cabin on the 319/320s.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
The website currently shows this:
Esta clase se encuentra disponible en nuestros aviones Airbus 318, Airbus 319 y Airbus 320 que operan las rutas entre:
Santiago - Buenos Aires
Santiago - Montevideo
Santiago - Sao Paulo
Santiago - Lima
Lima - Bogotá
Lima - Sao Paulo
Quito - Lima
Quito - Miami
Guayaquil - Lima
Guayaquil - Santiago
___________________________________
Of course, this is inaccurate, as EZE/LIM has a W cabin on the 319/320s.
Esta clase se encuentra disponible en nuestros aviones Airbus 318, Airbus 319 y Airbus 320 que operan las rutas entre:
Santiago - Buenos Aires
Santiago - Montevideo
Santiago - Sao Paulo
Santiago - Lima
Lima - Bogotá
Lima - Sao Paulo
Quito - Lima
Quito - Miami
Guayaquil - Lima
Guayaquil - Santiago
___________________________________
Of course, this is inaccurate, as EZE/LIM has a W cabin on the 319/320s.
Which class is that? (I presume it was obvious in the context you quoted from, but without that context it's not so obvious.)
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,629
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
It would have been more evident has you said "W" is also present on the EZE/LIM line, and if everyone visiting this forum knew that "W" means Premium Economy. (Airline cabin codes vary from airline to airline, and W means different things at different airlines, and I can't keep them all their straight. I was just looking up Air Tahiti Nui award inventory up for someone in another forum, and W is a coach award over there.)
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,629
Thanks.
It would have been more evident has you said "W" is also present on the EZE/LIM line, and if everyone visiting this forum knew that "W" means Premium Economy. (Airline cabin codes vary from airline to airline, and W means different things at different airlines, and I can't keep them all their straight. I was just looking up Air Tahiti Nui award inventory up for someone in another forum, and W is a coach award over there.)
It would have been more evident has you said "W" is also present on the EZE/LIM line, and if everyone visiting this forum knew that "W" means Premium Economy. (Airline cabin codes vary from airline to airline, and W means different things at different airlines, and I can't keep them all their straight. I was just looking up Air Tahiti Nui award inventory up for someone in another forum, and W is a coach award over there.)
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
As post 2, post 9 and post 15 already refer to the "W" cabin, it would have appeared evident, especially because one of my prior posts (in a thread you have been following closely) says "The beef here is that there isn't even a W (Premium Economy) cabin on Intra-South-America flights," one would have thought repeating same would have been redundant.
Perhaps I've been following it closely, but I see so many zillions of fare codes in a day of reading many forums on FT that they go in one eye and out the other, sorry.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: LAN COMODORO
Posts: 522
For me premium economy on Lan is just stupid. Is the same seat, the will only move the armrest and use a little table beteween the 2 seats. The space is the same that you can get on the first rows on any fly. Sure the service will be better, but the should copy the old "first class domestic" from Tam that is also sell as Premium Eco.
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
#28
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
For me premium economy on Lan is just stupid. Is the same seat, the will only move the armrest and use a little table beteween the 2 seats. The space is the same that you can get on the first rows on any fly. Sure the service will be better, but the should copy the old "first class domestic" from Tam that is also sell as Premium Eco.
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,629
For me premium economy on Lan is just stupid. Is the same seat, the will only move the armrest and use a little table beteween the 2 seats. The space is the same that you can get on the first rows on any fly. Sure the service will be better, but the should copy the old "first class domestic" from Tam that is also sell as Premium Eco.
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
I have not find lot of problems on my international flys to find some fly with a J class, but i can say that i have seen less flys (ex. To Lim use to be about 5. Now you can find about 3 with J)
For SCL origin, one gets the premium check-in room along with the "private" security and passport check, and the lovely lounge.
For all origin, one gets (and if I'm going to BUE, I need) a larger baggage allowance.
Carry-on police aren't going to be hunting me down.
For EZE origin, the Y counters can be a joke, and I usually have luggage. I also get a decent lounge.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: LAN COMODORO
Posts: 522
For someone with no LATAM nor Oneworld status, I value the W availability over the one cabin service.
For SCL origin, one gets the premium check-in room along with the "private" security and passport check, and the lovely lounge.
For all origin, one gets (and if I'm going to BUE, I need) a larger baggage allowance.
Carry-on police aren't going to be hunting me down.
For EZE origin, the Y counters can be a joke, and I usually have luggage. I also get a decent lounge.
For SCL origin, one gets the premium check-in room along with the "private" security and passport check, and the lovely lounge.
For all origin, one gets (and if I'm going to BUE, I need) a larger baggage allowance.
Carry-on police aren't going to be hunting me down.
For EZE origin, the Y counters can be a joke, and I usually have luggage. I also get a decent lounge.
Also will be nice if the start putting some premium eco on domestic, going to PUQ or ARI (that dont even haves a lounge) with just some snacks is killing me.