Originally Posted by
ak_tt_e61i
Why three class? Well they can't transform all BF equiped aircraft in their fleet overnight to lie flat seats. Logistally, financially not going to happen. Look at the challenge to get AVOD on just the 777's...
The only way I see this happening with 777 & 767 - One Third of BF front portion on 777 gets converted to lie flat First Class, the rest two thirds is Business First, and the rest is coach. Not sure if its feasible on a 767...
How long did it take to for the new BF seats to be installed in the 767 200/400? Duh it never happened and CO said that was in the plans.
BF has brand equity for Continental, its won awards from many travel magazines, and so they are not going to throw away that equity that they have built.
I think they would be forced to introduce First Class with "lie flat seats" with the 787 if they choose to go that way...again I highly doubt its going to happen.
I don't follow your reasoning--the argument as to why CO has to introduce a third class of service--it doesn't appear to be self consistent.
No airline has converted every piece of equipment overnight. Unless there is a governmental imperative for some kind of action, it doesn't happen. When the B752's were converted to BF, it happened gradually. Similar to what occurred when the B752 fleet was equipped with the new AVOD system.
If CO were to select a lie-flat option, there'd be no problem in converting the entire front cabin of a B772 or the B767's right away. Converting the entire cabin--rather than a portion of BF--would be done with minimal additional interruption the equipment schedule.
DL is starting the conversion process; it has a two class cabin; it's converting the entire cabin and the entire fleet of international wide-body aircraft--no problems with scheduling. The entire front cabin will be converted. AA refitted its B763 cabin without a major problem.
If CO or any other carrier wanted to install a true lie-flat option in the front cabin, there's no logistical reason that I can see that necessitates introduction of a third class of service for the aircraft.