If I'm not mistaken, JS has recently backtracked and the latest pronouncements out of Smith Street are now opening a door toward PE.

Additionally, while Smisek might be mildly entertaining for his wisecracks, he has a terrible track record.

We'll see what actually happens.

But CO's management team's rigidity notwithstanding, PE on transpac has proven itself to be revenue generator.

Without PE, CO would be the only major airline flying transpac to offer 31" as the only seat pitch available.

I have flown with the new seats (and when the plane was really new in 2004) and I admit that they're pretty nice, but nothing makes up for crummy service and food that was close to inedible.

I agree with You about the Crummy service, as for the food since I order a Special Meal its gonna be pretty much the same no matter whom Im flying, so thats not an issue for Me.

The worst part are the airports in Italy but then it also doesnt make too much of a difference which Carrier 1 flys if Italy will be a connecting place or final destination, as either way 1 will have to deal with Italy.

thats why AZ will win out IMO since the seats are alot better then COs IMO, maybe once they are taken over the service will pick up

Am I the only one that doesn't mind MXP? The fact that you always have to take a bus is kind of annoying but, all in all, I really don't mind it.

I for one choose almost exclusively based upon seat comfort - good to know that AZ is alright in this regard. No airline food is worth choosing a carrier on, as far as I'm concerned, and I include in that some of the genuinely decent meals I have had.

Except those same pronouncements indicated that they didn't want to add a third cabin. My point is just that I will assume that CO will launch the 787 with 9-abreast and no PE until definitive information is available otherwise. I think this is the only way to save disappointment and is most consistent with CO's track record of offering minimal levels of coach comfort on long-hauls. And, even if it is launched on the 787, that would likely stretch the conversion of the rest (also known as the bulk) of the long-haul fleet to some time after 2012 or so. I mean, why wait for CO to offer a product that you can choose to fly already?

In what way does Smisek have a terrible track record?

Make sure AZ will be flying its renovated Birds, I think by now they all should hav ebeen but I dont know for a fact.

Ive been lucky anytime Ive flown into MXP its been at a Gate w/o being bused. Its the long lines where they reXray and check you that gets to me, worse is how boarding from MXP is simply whoever is able to force their way on gets on 1st. With little or no seats in the gate area to boot.

In regards to the Seat itself AZ Blows CO away, and Id take AZ over CO just for the seat

wanted to add; when Im was talking about the seats I meant in Biz, I havent as of yet flown AZ in Coach

My favorite bus story was when we came back from CAI this year. We pull up to a gate, and I was in shock. They pull out the jetway. We exit into the jetway, but they then just had us take stairs from the jetway outside to a bus. Not sure what the point was.

The wise cracks make for entertaining sound bites & one-liners but sooner or later all of his pronouncements are reversed.

So far:

1. IFE

Likely in the future:

2. PE

Fairly likely in the future:
3. Lie-flat

Just flew back MXP - EWR on CO. Upgraded to BusinessFirst (flew over in coach with a friend and had an empty seat between us in the middle section). Can say a lot for CO. Great service going over in coach and great service coming back in BF. They are head and shoulders above the rest. I'm Platinum AA and about to reach 1M mile status. Have been a loyal AA flyer, but CO will definitely be getting my biz to cities that AA does not fly to direct (a fair number in Europe where those miles stack up).

The $400 was well worth the upgrade in my book (one way of course), and I have a lot of experience in F and J class.

Way to go CO.

Wait until you don't have the empty middle seat. I find CO coach tough to take for a longer trip when it is full.