Originally Posted by
EWR764
I strongly doubt that. Even in the best of times, inflight service isn't a primary driver of domestic premium traffic. With (mostly) competitive equilibrium on the premium transcons, elevated soft product was table stakes, but who knows what the expectation will be coming out of the COVID-19 crisis. I am certain, however, that hard product (seat) will be an essential competitive element.
The other thing, worth noting, is that the premium corporate/business customer isn't flying right now. I am not aware of any major companies with United corporate accounts that have substantially revised their no-travel policies.
Right on all accounts. I can tell you - that the only thing I give a crud about when flying transcon is the seat. Don't even care if they feed me at all - plenty of great options in the SFO & LAX terminals, and on the EWR side, I can just eat at home. But that lieflat seat is the difference between waking up refreshed and feeling like I got hit by a Mack truck.
That said - I'm still not airborne, and don't realistically expect those reins to come off till 2021. I'm incredibly lucky as a salesperson; I really only service one (large) account and have multi-decade relationships with many of my customers. So even if they don't see my ugly mug for the better part of a year... maybe they'll actually buy more from us?