Originally Posted by
Yachtman
I'm also one of those people that is surprised that their isn't a market for a superior seat in business class such as a larger 2x2 recliner seating on the A320/737 size aircrafts. I fully understand that its cheaper for airlines not to offer that, but it seems that you have a choice of economy seating or economy seating with a nice meal in Europe, and thats it. The difference between low cost airlines and club europe is not vast.
Perhaps no airline has the balls to try it and see, or they are all very clever and know that that the outcome won't be favourable... I know i'd pay more for a decent seat. But then if flying to Europe or the UK now, the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers are serving more regional airports and can get a lie flat all the way to destination rather then changing in Heathrow onto an economy seat with a fancy meal.
Look at U.S. based airlines. They have to routinely give their first class seats to their elite members for free as not many people pay for them. And look how bad the soft product is because nobody pays to fly first class and there is no money to invest into it. The only big markets that warrant more or less OK-ish J/F cabins are NYC to LAX/SFO. It won't make sense to introduce anything like that between Paris or Frankfurt and London (money capitals), and the longer flights are either leisure or not that money oiled so they want support the prices that such a product would command.
I think 34" pitch was as good as it can get for intra-European flights and I wish BA brought it back.