Originally Posted by
LDVFlyer
The customers aren't that different. Delta certainly doesn't think so. See their numbers or their public statements on the subject.
As for AA, their customers are also CX's customers, so much so that after years of putting their own customers on CX flights AA will soon start their second flight to HKG offering an identical hard product in J and a new soft product that is arguably better than Cathay's. (AA's SYD/LAX catering will become the standard on all long haul international.)
The US 3 no longer have an excuse for not competing with their international peers.
The customers are vastly different. Delta might not think so, but true premium customers most certainly do - and the fact remains the US carriers just don't cut it in the international quality reputation arena. I don't think many HK or Asia based CX customers would step on a AA flight and think "wow, this is just like Cathay". If any AA customers are stepping on a CX flight and thinking "wow, this is similar to, or not as good as AA", then CX has a pretty big problem that might put its quality reputation in jeopardy (which I understand is a recent problem they're facing).
When it comes to price, the difference is obvious - you can see who occupies the bottom tier of the price scale on most business class fares vs who demands, and gets a premium unless they are knee-capping a US competitor on a specific route. A few moments looking at matrix.ita where all the fares are laid out will clearly illustrate this.
The point being, the tone of this thread seems to suggest that the new purported UA J product is worse than SQ or NH or some other unattainable peer, therefore we're getting the short end of the stick instead of looking at the seats and layout and seeing everything positive that it suggests.