When BR first started US service, ED (Economy Deluxe) was a no brainer. It was only like US$150-$US200 more for roundtrip TPAC. When they started the 77W, it was initially like that. However, eventually the shrank Elite even more and increased the price over the years. So, I think the target audience has changed - instead of the upper-middle class Asian leisure travellers, it is more for business travellers who aren't allowed to fly J.

I have the "I will tough it out for 2 10-15 hour flights" and save US$600 (or the extra redemption miles) mindset - especially I am Star Alliance Gold so I get all the benefits on the ground. BR 77W 3-3-3 abreast Y is not too bad but sometimes you end up with a 3-4-3 Y.

When I did TPE-LAX in Y a few months ago, this Taiwanese woman was sitting next to me. She was telling me how rich she was (big house in Arcadia, just bought a brand new condo in NanGang for NT$900K per ping + the decorations, all the companies she owned over the years in both the US and Taiwan, etc.). I don't know why - usually the Chinese attitude is "don't show your money". Then I asked her how come she was in Y. She said she just could not justify the price differential for PE or J. I understand that.