Originally Posted by
airzim
But you're ignoring the fact that this are still only three different types of seating offered, regardless of what they call it or the service that's provided on board. It is still fundamentally the same product offering.
I don't think E+ with just extra leg room can cut it. I think they have to offer a product differentiation on par with BA, NZ, VS etc. Having said that I don't think CO is going to offer an E+ product unless it can be operationally justified on all long haul aircraft. It is not in CO's best interest to set an expectation that they have econ plus on TATL flights, except for every market that has a 757 on it. That would a customer service nightmare particularly if you're charging a premium for the product. And since I don't think the 757 can handle E+ seating, and given that it is a significant portion of their long haul fleet, I don't see it happening in the near term.
That being said it may happen one day in the future, when the 757 is not plying the Atlantic.
In regards to UA not charging for E+, I took a flight several weeks ago and that was exactly my experience., they didn't charge. This was also true on several flights prior to that all within this year.
First, I don't see any reason not to include E+ on the 757. Why not? After all, there are plenty of 757's configured for E+ on various carriers. So what if its 3-3 and the section is small (small means removing fewer E- seats and thus less agita for LK and the gang).
Second, regarding your comment about any E+ on CO standing out from the competition, that's precisely what we've been discussing since this thread took on the issue of E+.
As I have written a few times before, I believe that CO's introduction of E+ should be as revolutionary regarding premium economy as the launch of BF was for international J.
CO should redefine the category as a catalyst to having E+ be a major money maker.
Every time I have flown UA on E+ (I have no status on UA) they have charged me. But CO's E+ would not be like UA's E+, it would be a highly differentiated product with more legroom, more comfortable seats (but otherwise configured in the row patterns as E- [3-3-3 on the triple 7's], all the technological bells & whistles such as full internet access, int'l powerports, etc.
There would every reason for customers to pay a hefty premium for CO's E+.
But why should any CEO want to make money if it adds a little slight extra complexity to the business model?