When Does CX Return to Normalcy?
Nov 14, 2020 | 8:55 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold/OW emerald, QR
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BA's redoing their fleet such that they'll be 8F max fairly soon. I would imagine they'll bias towards 787-9/787-10/newest 777s with Club Suites J/new F (plus 787-8s and A350s that don't have F at all), dump older 747s (already done)/A380s/older 777s with 14F.
I also think CX will get cut down to a size and network more like BR (probably bigger since BR+CI both serve the Taiwan market, but maybe not a lot bigger)... which I might note has an enhanced/premium J (complete with Dom Perignon and pajamas) as their top cabin, not F.
I also think CX will get cut down to a size and network more like BR (probably bigger since BR+CI both serve the Taiwan market, but maybe not a lot bigger)... which I might note has an enhanced/premium J (complete with Dom Perignon and pajamas) as their top cabin, not F.
The problem is that airlines won't have the cash for extensively retrofitting existing ac for a few years.
I agree that CX fleet will be significantly downsized.
BA seriously downgraded its F&B F offering before covid. Their route could be to use their current F as premium J, which some consider to be already the case.
But I am less sure how CX could offer a premium J and J- without unaffordable extensive retrofit. Mabe they would use their 6 F seats for that purpose, but that is a small number of seats and not on many remaining ac. They could go the unbundling way of QR. Reserve the front rows of J to premium pax with enhanced service (PJ, better F&B) and the back for J- with reduced service (no lounge access, paid seat assignment, lesser F&B). All solutions have their flaws.
Nov 16, 2020 | 7:10 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 21,268
I fully agree with you that the trend was already to reduce F seat offering on all airlines.
The problem is that airlines won't have the cash for extensively retrofitting existing ac for a few years.
I agree that CX fleet will be significantly downsized.
BA seriously downgraded its F&B F offering before covid. Their route could be to use their current F as premium J, which some consider to be already the case.
But I am less sure how CX could offer a premium J and J- without unaffordable extensive retrofit. Mabe they would use their 6 F seats for that purpose, but that is a small number of seats and not on many remaining ac. They could go the unbundling way of QR. Reserve the front rows of J to premium pax with enhanced service (PJ, better F&B) and the back for J- with reduced service (no lounge access, paid seat assignment, lesser F&B). All solutions have their flaws.
The problem is that airlines won't have the cash for extensively retrofitting existing ac for a few years.
I agree that CX fleet will be significantly downsized.
BA seriously downgraded its F&B F offering before covid. Their route could be to use their current F as premium J, which some consider to be already the case.
But I am less sure how CX could offer a premium J and J- without unaffordable extensive retrofit. Mabe they would use their 6 F seats for that purpose, but that is a small number of seats and not on many remaining ac. They could go the unbundling way of QR. Reserve the front rows of J to premium pax with enhanced service (PJ, better F&B) and the back for J- with reduced service (no lounge access, paid seat assignment, lesser F&B). All solutions have their flaws.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Nov 21, 2020 at 12:37 am