Originally Posted by
ContinentalFan
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.
Can you imagine the logistics of selling lie flight on an itin where one 777 had lie flat and the other did not? Would they not want to charge a premium for a lie flat vs BF?
If CO wanted to sell lie flat to a customer and the customer wanted to buy it for a trip to EWR to BOM & BOM to EWR which is on a 777. They have multiple 777's that cover that route...
If I wanted lie flat - how do I confirm that lie flat is going to be on both segments? No way to do that when making a reservation unless CO dedicates planes with lie flat on specific routes and I do not see that happening on CO.
Today and for the forseable future CO can confirm BF on EWR to BOM and BOM to EWR because its serviced by 777's and they all have BF, but not all have AVOD!!!