CE restricted to 7 rows
#1
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CE restricted to 7 rows
Head for Points reporting this (though it has been rumoured for a while).
Seems a curious decision to restrict the number of customers paying a large premium to fly so you can squeeze in more of those paying the least. But then again I could not fathom getting rid of duty-free just before Brexit (Okay I am not an airline expert but MoL is and they derive a significant chunk of their revenue from in flight retail)
Reducing supply (all things being equal) will increase cost. Now the main revenue driver for CE is connections to profitable Long Haul flights, so with a restricted cabin, I wonder if they will hold back more seats for connecting Pax rather than O&D.
I also wonder how this will work out in BA's strategy of trying to stop (or at least combat) the growth of airlines like Norwegian.
It just does not seem like joined up thinking to me?
Seems a curious decision to restrict the number of customers paying a large premium to fly so you can squeeze in more of those paying the least. But then again I could not fathom getting rid of duty-free just before Brexit (Okay I am not an airline expert but MoL is and they derive a significant chunk of their revenue from in flight retail)
Reducing supply (all things being equal) will increase cost. Now the main revenue driver for CE is connections to profitable Long Haul flights, so with a restricted cabin, I wonder if they will hold back more seats for connecting Pax rather than O&D.
I also wonder how this will work out in BA's strategy of trying to stop (or at least combat) the growth of airlines like Norwegian.
It just does not seem like joined up thinking to me?
#3
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Interesting, and another opportunity for BA to get it badly wrong. If they really start messing about with CE catering it could prove expensive in the longer term.
#7
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As Mr. McEnroe might say : You cannot be serious
Plus .... in all fairness to BA, why on earth would they even consider such improvements whilst enough people are a) accustomed to the current mediocre config, and b) happy to cough up (often silly) money for it ....?
#8
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Presumably the exit rows (11/12?) are in a fixed position relative to the escape hatches, and they probably couldn't fit an extra row into the first 10 rows just by shaving an inch or two off each row. Whereas between 13 and 26(?) they had a bit more space to play with, so squeezing the pitch could give space for extra seats.
#9
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Raffles does suggest though that this will test the demand for CE and if demand is less price sensitive than they think, they could reduce the cabin on a permanent basis. I would doubt that as they must have quite a clear idea about demand elasticity from the way they open and close fare buckets.
#10
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What'll be interesting will be the reaction from last minute long-haul bookings with a connection, who end up in Y on the short-haul flights due to J being sold out.
I wonder how many threads we'll have on that?
The alternative being downgrading those on cheaper tickets, to accommodate those with long-haul connections.
I wonder how many threads we'll have on that?
The alternative being downgrading those on cheaper tickets, to accommodate those with long-haul connections.
#11
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What'll be interesting will be the reaction from last minute long-haul bookings with a connection, who end up in Y on the short-haul flights due to J being sold out.
I wonder how many threads we'll have on that?
The alternative being downgrading those on cheaper tickets, to accommodate those with long-haul connections.
I wonder how many threads we'll have on that?
The alternative being downgrading those on cheaper tickets, to accommodate those with long-haul connections.
#14
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They are never going to fit a proper J seat of 7 rows because the 7 rows is just the maximum, keeping the seat as it is means they can still only have 3 rows if they need it
#15
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I can't see that happening, BA can simply manipulate the relevant fare buckets to ensure they don't exceed 28 CE passengers and outside irrops that will normally work fine, they have a lot of experience in doing this fairly accurately. Moreover - and accepting this is so far Galley FM rather than factual - for the handful of LHR routes where 7 rows is insufficient, notably GVA at peak hours, they will simply roster other aircraft to cover the service. LGW and LCY are presumably unaffected. I'd be surprised if this made a noticeable difference in the short term, not that many services go over 7 rows, long term there are other factors at play which are indeed interesting.