If CO is actually considering E+ seating it must have read my mind. As a CO Gold I rarely get upgraded on the routes that I fly. Lately I've been seriously considering abandoning all loyalty programs and just flying whichever airline is cheapest...why pay a premium to fly CO just to get stuck in a coach seat? (I rarely take advantage of the other "perks" of Gold status, such as free checked luggage). If CO would reconfigure its seating to guarantee me a bit more comfort in a coach seat I'd probably take the bait and hang in there as a OnePass member.

TWA Fan 1, it looks like your thinking evolved between @129 and @131. ;)

Anyway, as I have said since the advent of E+, in travel, space has always been the biggest value discriminator. More than anything else it defines a class of service. Think of real ships. 757s with First, E+ and E- are three-class aircraft with E- as much "Steerage" as on the passenger ships of old. United's two-aisle "three-class" planes are actually four-class.

Economy Plus is a waiting franchise that begs to evolve with "value propositions". It's only a matter of time before there are "free" snacks, soft drinks, pillows, blankets and perhaps movies in E+ -- but all for a fee, if at all, in Steerage. Relegating E- passengers more and more to, "Well, it was what you asked for,"** just like Steerage on the Titanic (here only as an example of the Steerage concept, nothing more).

Watch.


** And word of mouth marketing here will make it so.

You know it!

Actually, I have been a major proponent of E+ on CO for years, especially considering the discomfort of CO's Y cabin.

Under the recently ended Larry Kellner regime, however, there was a repeated categorical refusal to consider E+ based on economics (removing seats reduces potential revenue) and CO's policy of product simplicity (no three-cabin configurations, etc.) and commonality.

Jeff Smisek has now taken the reins and there have already been a number of changes, many of which tend to make the CO product more similar to UA's.

Certainly, E+ would be a huge step in that direction. Additionally, of course, it would allow CO to provide a tangible benefit to its legions of discontented elites who are no longer receiving upgrades. If CO is smarter than UA in monetizing its E+ it could also be a source of revenue, one, unlike the current "unbundling" craze, which could generate revenue by adding value instead of reducing it.

(Note: UAL reports that its E+ earns a couple of hundred million dollars a year in incremental revenue. But I believe CO could do better).

Nevertheless, I believe that there remains a heavy institutional opposition within CAL to remove seats, even if E+ can be demonstrated to generate net incremental revenue.

I hope I'm wrong.

So.... nothing still on the rumors. I've been switching majority of flying to CO, still with US and AA tossed in depending on where the bosses send me. 5'5, not too huge a deal in the cheapo back. But now trying to get 6'3" Mr. P1 to Europe this summer. Preparing to buy F (stop gasping- some of us actually have to pay our way in), but if I could get away with both E+ prices and happy man, I'd be thrilled.

Oh well. Maybe I should just count on F and show him a good flight, rather than just a comfortable one. CC companies need the income, and I earn miles for the cost.......

But if you're doing OnePass, you could just book your flight on UA. As a CO OP elite you could book UA E+ and receive your OP miles.

As far as CO's premium cabin, CO does semi-annual sales (there is usually one every summer) which makes crossing the pond in BusinessFirst reasonably affordable (I've done for as little as $1,100 roundtrip, and, yes, I paid for it myself).

CO E+
 

That is good news, if true. Especially if no upgrade or exit row available.

Haven't made elite yet, as I've been spread out over 3 airlines. Maybe this year- but my next flight is US. But I will be checking for the sale- that would be a great price. Thanks!

To draw a finer point to the one I just made, sadly, I see the approach (retreat) as the United removing value from all of E. Later, they'll add back as "perks" in E+ what we were "spoiled by" in yesteryear's Coach. Today, they are being careful not to do these things simultaneously. Later, they'll have to be careful to gradually add E+ perks so as not to be vulnerable to anyone - such as us and the competition - nailing them with the term "Steerage" about the implications for E- passengers.

And I also meant to note that UA was smarter than AA (who introduced the concept) was with their "More Room Throughout Coach" or whatever they called it.

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Bpfjr! ^^^

Just one note: Those prices are from NYC, I'm sure it would be more expensive from PHX..

E+ is necessary... especially since the merger talks are starting up again !

With CO reducing the upgrade delivery to elites even further via very aggressive buy-ups, E+ is going to be important.

E+ is VERY important to keeping elites happy. If you're a gold, you don't get upgraded much, but you can relax knowing that at least you won't be in a relatively comfortable seat versus despairing as you move further away from that 1 seat remaining on the upgrade list.

I dont see CO taking out coach seats to add more legroom when most of the flights are full..Someone once asked Gordon about this subject and he replied that there is all ready a place on the aircraft for people who want more legroom..First Class.@:-)

Times change. Not all airlines jumped on business class right away when it was introduced. E+/Premium Economy on the international side was introduced over 15 years ago by EVA Airways but is just now starting to gain momentum.

Gordon answered the question as it made sense during that time period.

I would love to see CO introduce E+, and I agree that GB's statement is pretty dated today.

On the other hand, it's also safe to say that domestic E+ has not taken off the way int'l premium economy has.

Currently, only UA and B6 offer what might properly be called E+. This is unlike some other airlines who charge a premium for their exit and/or bulkhead rows but who have not created a definiable E+ zone by removing seats.

There is no reason why CO shouldn't continue being the innovator it once was...but given the recent corporate history there, I think the only way it will happen is as a way to synchronize the product with UA in the view of a merger or a near-merger...

It is a lot, even for a short guy like me. It's also really noticeable when you have to get something from your carryon or off the floor and you don't have to smack your head into the seat in front of you or contort yourself like a cirque de soleil acrobat.

BTW, I always thought that Virgin had the first Premium Economy product with midclass in '92. I think EVA was right around the same time though.

Considering we just spent millions removing galley space from a majority of our 737's, rearranging lavs, to add more seats. The chance of E+ coming to Continental is slim to none. We are still actively reconfiguring planes in this new config. I also don't see the benefit with CO offering E+, we lose seats in the main cabin and the crew will be expected to monitor another cabin. Thanks but no thanks, I feel if you want extra space the best thing to do is stop waiting for upgrades and buy-ups and just buy a F ticket. Problem solved!