It's interesting reading this thread that the majority of posters are primarily looking at leg room issues and MRTC on AA. I don't count UK - US flights as long haul anymore, rather "mid haul". UK- Australasia is what I'd consider long haul. Comfort however is important, what ever the distance travelled.

BA competes on all these routes and has very different competiton on each. The last time I flew Y back to Australia 4 years ago on SIA there were over 20 TV channels to choose from, plus nintendo and pc games available on the IFE unit. Is it 8 or 12 channels that BA offers Y and a only a few (6?) more in J? A collegue of mine just came back from Japan on ANA and they have video on demand in Y.

SIA has footrests in Y and I believe the other asian carriers also have these. With the hysteria of DVT recently you'd think that these would be a good selling point for any airline flying long haul.

Recline and pitch are important. Having recently flown AA's MRTC LHR-ORD I found it not nearly as claustrophobic as I'd feared - firstly as this was the first time I'd flown transatlantic in Y for 7 years and secondly as the last time was on a NW DC-10 that felt very small!

Bond Boy - I think there are some UK Charter airlines that already allow you to select premium meals at a cost, and I think some of the US ones are as well. AA sent me a survey last year asking if I would pay for a better meal. I won't start on that topic here!!! However, it seems that the market is being tested and I'm sure if the technology and overheads are right it will soon be introduced.

WT+ is probably sucessful as it's a product that appeared at the right time. Many companies are not allowing their staff to travel business class any more, only economy. One of my ex-collegues has moved to such a firm but refuses to send his staff out on long flights in Y if premium economy is available on the basis that the staff should arrived as refreshed as possible so they can complete there work efficiently.

As far as type of traveller goes, I was once somebody that didn't care about FF points and was soley concerned about costs. And this was after my first FF experience with KLM/NW. Being able to earn miles on a variety of airlines within the OW alliance has made me more selective of where and with which airline I fly. I've even paid slightly more to ensure I get a fare that accrues mileage!

But there will always be those that don't care about miles and just want the cheapest seat, quickest route or book too late to have any alternatives. They're the ones who will remember that flight they took 5 years ago and how cramped it was, how bad the food was, how bored they were etc. and tell their friends this until they are blue in the face.

So, do you create a WT product that competes with what's available on the particular route or do you just go out to create the best economy product possible? Hopefully it's the later.