Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Alaska Airlines | Mileage Plan
Reload this Page >

HA A330 getting Lie-flat seats - will AS upgrade ETOPS first class?

HA A330 getting Lie-flat seats - will AS upgrade ETOPS first class?

Old Oct 23, 2015, 8:33 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,490
HA A330 getting Lie-flat seats - will AS upgrade ETOPS first class?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...lines/74256568

The relatively cramped first class seat pitch on AS is adequate for shorter flights, but for tall people like myself (6'2"), it can get uncomfortable on longer flights. With HA stepping up their game, perhaps AS can do SOMETHING on ETOPS equipment.

Sure - there is a big difference between wide and narrow body aircraft, I expect AS will stick with 737s, but the current hard and soft product could use some improvement to attempt to remain competitive.
diver858 is online now  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 8:47 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 475
An A330 can fly 10 hours or more. A 737 tops out around 6 and usually does less. Apples and oranges.
IStream is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 9:08 am
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,690
Originally Posted by IStream
An A330 can fly 10 hours or more. A 737 tops out around 6 and usually does less. Apples and oranges.
+1...total apples to oranges situation here....only the A330s are getting lie flights which are mostly used on their long haul routes like Hawaii-Asia and JFK-HNL....I can almost guarantee you that their new A321 narrow bodies they'll be using on many of their competing AS routes like PDX-HNL will not have lie flats.
PDXPremier is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 9:15 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
AS is never getting lie-flats. Ever.

It would be nice to get a more modern F seat with a little more personal space but to do that they would either have to cut the number of F seats, or expand the cabin (reducing the number of Y seats) so I'm not holding my breath.

Now I will be interested if SAN ever sees one of these lie-flat HA 330's - we have that A/C daily to HNL.

Last edited by Madone59; Oct 23, 2015 at 12:16 pm Reason: Tpyo
Madone59 is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 9:53 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,566
great news for potential J routings to SYD and AKL as HA is often among the cheaper options ex-HNL. however, i'm sure the price will bump up once these installs are completed.
PV_Premier is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 10:04 am
  #6  
ANC
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
Originally Posted by IStream
. A 737 tops out around 6 and usually does less. Apples and oranges.
Try 7 but I get your point and agree with it
ANC is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 12:19 pm
  #7  
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,286
Originally Posted by Madone59
As is never getting lie-flats. Ever.

It would be nice to get a more modern F seat with a little more personal space but to do that they would either have to cut the number of F seats, or expand the cabin (reducing the number of Y seats) so I'm not holding my breath.
Holding one's breath would be suicide.

More space would mean fewer F seats. Period. AS F is a Spartan offering by design. I prefer it that way as a reasonably-available upgrade benefit, not as a more expensive competitive product.

Last edited by dayone; Oct 23, 2015 at 2:03 pm Reason: Typo.
dayone is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 12:29 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
Originally Posted by Madone59
AS is never getting lie-flats. Ever.
If the long running rumors are true and they get 787s, those should have lie-flats.
tusphotog is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 12:37 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,337
Originally Posted by diver858
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...lines/74256568

The relatively cramped first class seat pitch on AS is adequate for shorter flights, but for tall people like myself (6'2"), it can get uncomfortable on longer flights. With HA stepping up their game, perhaps AS can do SOMETHING on ETOPS equipment.

Sure - there is a big difference between wide and narrow body aircraft, I expect AS will stick with 737s, but the current hard and soft product could use some improvement to attempt to remain competitive.
AS doesn't like subfleets with different seating configurations. Note that they ripped out the forward lavs from their 739s (which were a subfleet).

Also, the most likely way to enlarge the F cabin is to shrink the pitch in the Y cabin. 30" pitch like UA/AA for tall people like myself (6'2") gets VERY uncomfortable on longer flights, and one of the reasons I fly AS is that I can get at least 32" pitch in coach in EVERY seat in the cabin. But I guess I don't count since I'm in coach.
eponymous_coward is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 12:40 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 4,044
hawaii is a leisure market with zero market for lie flat seats. HA may be able to get a decent premium from JFK and it's international market. but that's about it.
haddon90 is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 2:04 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,504
Gee, I wonder if there's similar speculation in the HA board as follows:

AS is converting some -700s to all freighters, whether HA will be converting some of its aircraft to all freighters?

AS to likely get rid of its combi planes? Will HA follow (by getting some and then getting rid of some?)
Eastbay1K is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 2:38 pm
  #12  
ANC
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
Originally Posted by Madone59
AS is never getting lie-flats. Ever.

.
Couldn't agree more so long as all they operate are 737s. Either A. they would have to tear out 2 rows of F seats and only have 8 seats up front or B. rip out 2 or 3 rows of main cabin seats. Neither of which is happening. You would see them pull out a row of F seats to add a row or 2 of coach seats before either one of the for mentioned ideas.

VX has close to almost lie flat with an 8 class F cabin. Here is the kicker though. Paid F is $1300 each way for a 5 hour nonstop to OGG from SFO. Paid F on AS OGG to OAK is roughly $730 each way. Less seats to sell=higher prices to make up for less tickets. So if Im flying from the bay area to OGG its a no brainer simple choice for me, save almost $1200 for the trip per person. On a 5 hour flight who cares if the seat reclines back 56 inches. To each his own though, if one thinks 56 inches of pitch and mood lights is worth $1200 for 10 hours then by all means

Last edited by ANC; Oct 23, 2015 at 2:57 pm
ANC is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 2:44 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,451
Originally Posted by PV_Premier
great news for potential J routings to SYD and AKL as HA is often among the cheaper options ex-HNL. however, i'm sure the price will bump up once these installs are completed.
Of course, the fares will go up! The lie-flat seats take up TWICE as much room on the plane. So, the fares for them will go up significantly (about the same as other carriers with lie-flat seats on those transpac routes). You can also bet that the mainland-Hawaii A330 F fares will increase as well.
formeraa is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 4:12 pm
  #14  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
AS sees F as upgrade class. They made their seats worse, what makes you think AS would reconfigure them to make them better after that. HA is doing this to compete with the big long haul international carriers so i don't think AS would be much interested in what HA is doing for that market segment.
CDKing is offline  
Old Oct 23, 2015, 4:13 pm
  #15  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,337
Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
Gee, I wonder if there's similar speculation in the HA board as follows:

AS is converting some -700s to all freighters, whether HA will be converting some of its aircraft to all freighters?

AS to likely get rid of its combi planes? Will HA follow (by getting some and then getting rid of some?)
HA is getting some A321s. Will AS follow and get some A321s?
eponymous_coward is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.