If that is the case, then where did we get this idea of 4 classes of service from? They aren't doing econ-biz-prem.biz-first. They are just downgrading the F product somewhat. I actually think its not a bad idea. Truth is that the service in F right now is a bit overkill. Nice, but overkill. Dinner is like a wedding at the Waldorf. The seats are awesome, but all that space (on the 744) for 8 seats? Even for F that doesn't make much sense - especially when F is nearly always 5 out of 8 seats (or 4 out of 6 on the 777) upgrades from C.
Look, IF I am right (and I stress IF) then the folks at LY aren't so stupid after all. For example, it might piss us all off to hell, but a heck of a lot of us are buying full-Y class these days to jockey for the upgrade - something we never would have done two years ago. They got us to pay a significant % more for the same seat/product - and have succeeded in actually selling much of the business cabin which wasn't the case a few years ago. I remember the days when business was 80% upgrades! Today, except for mid-week, upgrades are scarce.
Maybe here with the "F-" they will sell a greater percentage of first.
Maybe.
Then again, IMNSHO, if they tinker any more with the upgrade policy (like making only Y upgradeable), they will at the very least LOSE much revenue because either:
1) BEST CASE - Most of us won't buy Y all the time - we'll go down to V class since PL status won't mean much of anything anyway.
2) WORST CASE - Many of us will defect to other carriers. El Al would lose its edge.
OK - I am way off on a tangent here - but I do think its all ultimately connected and part of the decision making on the issue of classes of service, so I'm posting anyway.