Originally Posted by
Mike Jacoubowsky
Premium F isn't going to work for US airlines until they drop the label from their domestic "F" offerings. What "F" means on a US carrier is so ridiculously all over the map that it can never have the value, in many customer's minds, that it needs to command a high-enough price to justify a super-premium service.
On FT, sure, we understand the differences between International anything and Domestic anything. But the domestic carriers do nothing to draw attention to those differences, and I doubt it could be unwound at this time. The damage is done.
In Europe, most "domestic" (within EU) flights don't even claim an "F" section, but rather "business" which is nothing more than a middle seat that's been replaced by a tray. As much of a perversion of the notion of "business" as the US carriers do with "first class." Wonder how much of that has to do with FF redemption? People flying an International leg on a legit C that don't want to see that "mixed cabin" note?
I agree that the domestic F should be renamed as Business Class, though that will likely never happen.
It's interesting the comparison between domestic F to intra-European C. The seat in the USA is significantly more "premium" than the seat in Europe; but the treatment in Europe is significantly more premium, at least on LH, LX, and BA.
Originally Posted by
eightblack
That's the funniest thing I have heard all day. I'm going to wait until my wife gets home from work and tell her you told me to say that
How'd that work out for you?
Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I doubt rebranding domestic F is confusing anyone. The market segment that flies these classes likely understands quite well the distinction. The general lay person out there that doesn't isn't likely to be in the market for these F seats, anyway.
You'd be surprised though. I have a friend who flew domestic F, and then considered an international trip. He was going to not fly UA F purely because he felt that their F isn't up to par, since "other airlines have these seat-bed combo things, and UA was just like a recliner chair." I had to explain to him that domestic F and international F are completely different beasts.
And good thing i did - I saved him a few thousand dollars over BA. (I still love the treatment by FAs in GF on UA)
Originally Posted by
Always Flyin
I disagree. American carriers are run by American CEOs who were taught in business school the road to profits is made in cutting costs. The entire concept of spending money and improving the product to entice customers is lost on U.S. airlines.
As a result, I fly in paid F regularly, but not on a U.S. carrier (except for the new AA 77W flight from LAX to LHR because it is superior to BA).
OK, but are they wrong? Compare the profits at UA, AA, and DL to the profits at SQ, EK, EY, etc.
Those who can afford F generally don't fly U.S. carriers and the UA GS members aren't going anywhere since the entire CO fleet is already two-class and they fly on those and maintain GS.
Not exactly true.