Originally Posted by Casimir
I just want to note that not all of us who boycott Song are engaged in some type of class warfare!! I am a pretty big guy, and I am simply not comfortable in coach. Moreover, judging by the looks on people's faces, neither are my neighbors. I am not so big that I must fly with arm rests up, nor do I "spill over" into neighboring seats, but coach simply doesn't work well for me.
So, I work pretty hard every year to make Platinum on Delta to secure those first class seats as often as possible. I also will pay for one if there is no other option and it's even marginally affordable. Given the number of threads all throughout Flyer Talk about large people, many of which are extremely negative, I consider this to be something of a public service!
Moreover, if the flight attendants are still doing schtick, I simply won't fly Song (please inform if they are). It is purely a matter of taste (I'm not picking an argument), but travelling is stressful enough without a lot of irritating background noise. If that makes me a curmudgeon, I suspect I'm not the only one out there.
OTOH, if Song made one simple change I would fly them despite the irritations -- a European style business class with the middle seat folding down would be all it takes (see the thread on the CEO's talk posted today).
I am not a small person either, and I have flown Song RT BOS-Florida twice in the past two weeks. One cannot beat the elapsed travel times when compared to connections in ATL or CVG. And sitting in the CRCs in MCO and TPA, I could not help but notice the ATL flights being frequently delayed due to weather and mechanicals. It was nice not to have to be concerned about missed connections.
The flights themselves were pleasant enough... the IFE is superb when compared to FC on a domestic flight. The FAs still do their little routine, and even sang songs on two of the flights. One led an exercise in your seat routine, stretching and shaking etc. If that interrupted a movie that I had paid for, I would not have been happy. But at least the FAs seem to be always pleasant and enthused, something that you cannot always say about mainline.
As for putting center seats down, I must point out that all four of my Song flights were full, more or less. Even though they were mid-week mid-summer flights. That may be artificial since two of the flights followed a previous flight that was cancelled, and yesterday's flight from TPA to BOS was full of Red Sox fans that had gone to see the Sox play the Devil Rays.
Now for my major peeve... as a many year PM, I detest being handed a BP with Zone 7 or Zone 8 printed on it. And even if they allow you to board a zone or two early (wink-wink), the gate scanner rings some alarm now which the GA quickly silences. Who the devil thought that little wrinkle up?
However, I must say that on all four flights, the overheads did NOT fill up. But of course, no winter coats etc this time of year.
I would not avoid Song just because the FAs try to entertain, especially if they offered nonstop service. Those FC upgrades aren't worth a thing if you miss your connection in ATL. And even if you make your connection, there is nothing FC about hauling yourself from one end of ATL to the other. Do that when you have to, but not if there is a nonstop Song alternative, especially on the FL routes. (I am not sure about the LAX/SFO routes.)