Thats an excellent price for the upgrade. I've paid a lot more than that for the BA Y to Y+ upgrade, though they occassionally have good deals on the website and at the airport.

Bit surprised about the food - when I last flew them, they served the regular Y meal. The only difference was that we got served first, so we had our choice (I suspect some of the folk towards the back of Y didnt).

The 34" seats on AC are the bulkheads and the exit rows. AC already charges more for them. Every other seat is 31" or 32".

Great. Hopefully that means that Rovinescu wants more than UA style E+.

Its the wierdest thing though. I remember a time when Asian airlines offered less legroom than US airlines, and I always figured it was related to pax profile and height. Now Asian airlines are providing legroom and North American/European airlines are cutting it despite the fact that the average north American is taller than the average Asian. Air China and Air India offer 34" and Air Canada/UA offer 31". Interesting.

Maybe its a new North American trick for fleecing tall people by making them more and more uncomfortable at the back? I wouldnt want to be 6 foot tall and stuck in a 31 inch seat for 8 hours.

I don't see any indication that Calin was referring to UA's E+ when he mentionned Premium Economy, was he?

Could it be something like AF's Premium Voyageur? It is not only increased seat pitch, there is also one less seat per row and the seats recline in a shell. $300 extra/direction on YUL-CDG. Personally I would love to see AC propose something similar.

20% less load factor at 50% higher fare, is there a market for it?

Its not just UA - I think KL (and possibly DL) are trying out a UA-type E+ product. So I wouldn't rule it out that quickly.

On ly because on UA if you are a 1K or Global Services they automatically seat you in E+....so probably AC would emulate the same.

I paid $90 to get the comfort option on a KLM MD-11 AMS-YUL. About 5" more legroom, same food, middle seats were mostly free. Well worth every dollar, just give me more leg room, don't care about food/amenities personally

wrong. every elite, even the lowest ones, and even just the nominated ones get to sit in E+, not just 1K and GS.

WRONG BACK to yourself!
Premier Exec and Premiers do not automatically get to sit in E+.
I was just on UA896 SIN-HKG and they do NOT offer E+ to Elite's or SE's at all only if the plane is full and they need to move us up as *A Gold members!

UA elites get E+ for free, space available (GS down to 3P).

AC E/SE are not UA elites who qualify for E+.

It's actually 34"-36" for UA 747 in E+.

UA Elite (including Premiers (2P and 3P), PremExec and 1K passenger benefits include Economy Plus seating and is outlined on this webpage. AC and other * members are not guaranteed E+ seating, though it has been reported by various people that ad hoc E+ seating has been offered to Gold members of various other programs.


and blah blah blah....

I was referring to the difference between UA's regular economy offering and E+, which is 3-5" more (with lowest increase on 747 and everything else 4-5"). You were not clear as to your comparison until your subsequent post.

If you wish to cherry pick airline seating, Mauricio23 has already noted that the 34" seats on AC are available at a cost, and are limited to a few rows and not the ordinary. On top of that, only half the cabins appear to have the 32" seating with the remainder at 31". 777 are all 32".

If you look at the US-operated airlines (UAs major competition), it is 31-32" seating (DL, AA, US).

If you look at the seat pitch of Econ seats for * members, ANA is 31" for all but 777 (32"). LH 31" on 747, 32" on Airbii. Sq is nicer at 32", with 777 ranging from 32-34" (but mostly 32"). Air China does indeed offer the best seat pitch in economy, but they are the exception and not the (Asiana only has 32" on their 330s and 767s.

BTW, AF is only 34" on 747, everything else is 32".

For those that offer E+ seating, most are 38", (exc AF and UA), but DL is only offering UP TO 4" more (UA is UP TO 5" more).

In summary, your 1-2" difference is ONLY for those with the best seat pitch, but on average, the seat pitch across the majority of airlines is more than that.

Regardless, the extra few inches do make for a more comfortable journey. If I had my druthers and am seated in econ, I opt for the extra leg room. SAS' EconExtra is a nice hard product.

We seemed to be consistently upgraded to E+ on UA when booking *A UA through AE. UA is targeting the Canadian market and has been doing so quite effectively.

With Delta just adopting their own version.. look for others such as AC to follow.

I do YOW-AUS quite frequently and I have very good luck with getting moved up to E+ without having to pay...especially on the segments that originate in the US. Much better luck than I've had with getting moved up on AC...

Must be extra nice treatment from UA.. I know CO got us back of the bus last time with the seats that don't recline all the way.. but I was happy to leave early on spring break..

hmm.. out of all the *A airlines, UA treats us the best it seems over the last 5 years. AC is a nice flight as well because of the free checked bag, and checked car seats for the kids.