An AC flight attendant has informed me that AC will re-introduce First Class next year. Has anyone heard of this?

My understanding (from an AC S/E I met on a CP flight recently) was that what is now called business class will be renamed first class, and a new, scaled back business class will be created, with a space and service level between the current two classes. I discounted the claim at the time, but perhaps this is the plan?

Perhaps the new "Business Class" will be comparable to the United "Economy Plus" where you get more legroom but nothing else?

I'd prefer to see 2+2 seating with the improved legroom, maybe like domestic BC in the 767s and then get AC economy food.

andrew

Is this only going to be on the International routes? It seems that all other Star Alliance carriers have a 3 cabin product and AC may have to "get on the bandwagon" to also provide a true F product on the longhauls. The lack of it may be causing a gap in the ability to sell certain fares on RTW products, etc, and may be causing a few percent of full fare F passengers to avoid AC.

I hope not...

Air Canada's ExecutiveFirst is one of the best business class in the world. For domestic flights, I guess I don't mind that much, but for HKG/TPE-YVR run, those J-class seats are great. I will miss those J-class seats...

keep us updated!

Carfield

I am wondering whether they will have business class as well as first on the long-hauls. AC's Executive Class in North America is fully comparable (or better) than a lot of other carrier's First Class, so they could even rename that cabin right now.

Then the question comes as to whether they will charge First Class or Business Class fares?

Anybody out there old enough to remember Connosseur Service, which is what AC called its initial forray into an "in between" First and Economy product? (They later dropped the service and sold the name to United for their Business Class product.)

And then there was an attempt to segregate full Y-fare customers (and Elites, in the pre-SuperElite days) in the front Economy cabin on widebodies.

From experiencing BA's First product out of Toronto and Vancouver to London -- with full cabins on all occasions -- AC might feel it's losing some very high-yield customers on that route, at least. Also, to Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Osaka. (And to remain consistent with other STAR partners which do have an F-Class cabin.)

Just don't see the need for this product domestically, and think the UA approach to more pitch in the first few rows of Economy would suffice for those not able to get upgrades to Executive Class.

I don't think that it is too likely. It costs a lot of money to develop an F product, and you have to be certain that you can sell it.

When AC eliminated F, only about 19% of load was being sold as F. The rest were upgrades, deadheading, and FOA.

IF they reintroduce F, it will have to be a flat-bed product (UA pods, or 80" pitch) to compete. They will also likely restrict access--F fares or reward seats, with very limited upgrading allowed.

My guess is that it will show up only on trans-pacific. The market transatlantic is just too limited for fares at this level.

Eastbay 1K - No you're wrong. Not all Star Alliance members offer First Class. To name 2 that comes to mind - ANSETT Australia and SAS. These only offer Business and Economy class products.

I would think also that when AC re-introduces a First Class product that the fares will be First Class fares. So in fact, AC will be reintroducing an old product but charging new and higher fares!

So will we have Executive Class in North America, Executive First to Europe and Central/South America and Executive Pacific (half way between Executive and Executive First?) and Executive Pacific Suites for Asia/Pacific?

Frankly, they could leave J as it is in all the international markets--just rename it to take the "First" out (since it doesn't really reflect an F product anymore, anyway).

It would be hugely competitive across the Pacific--beating SQ at their own game by offering more room in J than any other trans-pacific carrier with 3 cabin service.