Originally Posted by
TheMan
Why is it that the FC sections on planes that was reduced post-9/11 due to low passenger counts not be increased back to the full size that was PRE-9/11 now that planes are packed to the gills? There are times when you want to even BUY an FC ticket and you can't because of the small sections.
I will take this a different direction. Since the planes are "packed to the gills" - CO needed more seats on the 735 to make it more profitable. Removing one row of F on the 735 (minus 4 F seats) - CO was able to add 12 coach seats - which is a big increase for this aircraft. CO later reconfigured the closet area and gained 2 FC seats - so the net was: minus 2 FC seats, plus 12 coach seats - a net gain of 10 seats - close to a 10% increase.
The 735 being the smallest 737 is the least profitable of the 737's. Basically a 735 requires the same expenses as a larger 73G/738/739 with an extra FA.
Plus the 735 flies on shorter flights - like DCA-EWR and on the longer flights - the routes are not necessarily routes with lots of FC ticket purchases.
Also - CO is starting to phase out the 735 - getting rid of some this year.