Rumor: 747 B/E seat reduction
Apr 3, 2014, 3:29 am
#136
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Apr 3, 2014, 3:39 am
#137
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Apr 3, 2014, 3:49 am
#138
Join Date: Jun 2005
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(b) I only shave every few days.
(c) I smoke cigars and cigarillos on a daily basis.
(d) Do True Religion jeans count?
and Canarsie will vouch for the fact; that I am quite unkempt.
Apr 3, 2014, 5:52 am
#139
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I have been doing everything possible to keep flying the 744 UD but I will abandon extreme measures if 73A becomes a faint memory.
Apr 3, 2014, 6:21 am
#140
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Info the other thread sources came from a pilot as well, so seems to be the same/similar source. Hoping we can get an 'official' word from DL either way. Definitely a huge disappointment if they do away with the upper deck and turn it into the overhead space lacking claustrophobic cabin.
If we're talking 50Y or 42-44EC it almost sounds more like a 3x2 arrangement. Either way, 3 across up there would be nasty.
Wouldn't that make DL one of the only airlines to stick coach seats upstairs instead of having that for business or first? I think AF is the only other one that squishes pax up there. Certainly not becoming of a "world class" product, nor an "elite" or "exclusive" experience.
Honestly it sounds more like something RyanAir would do if they had a 747.
EDIT: Looks like Virgin Atlantic is the only other one... they put some Y seats upstairs behind the emergency exits along with their business class seats.
If we're talking 50Y or 42-44EC it almost sounds more like a 3x2 arrangement. Either way, 3 across up there would be nasty.
Wouldn't that make DL one of the only airlines to stick coach seats upstairs instead of having that for business or first? I think AF is the only other one that squishes pax up there. Certainly not becoming of a "world class" product, nor an "elite" or "exclusive" experience.
Honestly it sounds more like something RyanAir would do if they had a 747.
EDIT: Looks like Virgin Atlantic is the only other one... they put some Y seats upstairs behind the emergency exits along with their business class seats.
Last edited by rylan; Apr 3, 2014 at 6:39 am
Apr 3, 2014, 7:03 am
#141
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Apr 3, 2014, 8:11 am
#142
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I think most of us would love to see this option. That being said, it would not really work to roll it out on just one aircraft....an aircraft that they don't have that many of. But maybe they could think about this on the 777 also as they rip out those BE seats.
Apr 3, 2014, 8:22 am
#143
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Seems that Delta is looking for the tipping point between profits and BE travelers. EC is a moneymaker at the expense reducing BE seating in the 777 and 747, which should result in driving the cost of BE up. As loyal as I am to Delta, there is a point that what they offer in international BE doesn't jive with what they charge.
I spend enough of my life on airplanes that it isn't just a seat to a destination, and the experience and surroundings begin to matter. If the investment is in Y, and not improving, but charging more for the current BE experience, than One World begins to look more attractive.
I spend enough of my life on airplanes that it isn't just a seat to a destination, and the experience and surroundings begin to matter. If the investment is in Y, and not improving, but charging more for the current BE experience, than One World begins to look more attractive.
Apr 3, 2014, 10:04 am
#144
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. . . . . . but, then again, aircraft type changes are rare, right?
Apr 3, 2014, 11:42 am
#145
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I only meant that the smaller less crowded cabin DL UD was much more inviting/relaxing IMO. Completely agree about the CZ service but liked the open/pour yourself bar.
Apr 3, 2014, 2:35 pm
#146
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Please please no. At least wait until I can get my kid into one of these UD BE seats.
If this goes through, I'll have to burn some major $$$s to get him into the UD of a 747.
If this goes through, I'll have to burn some major $$$s to get him into the UD of a 747.
Apr 3, 2014, 2:49 pm
#147
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Info the other thread sources came from a pilot as well, so seems to be the same/similar source. Hoping we can get an 'official' word from DL either way. Definitely a huge disappointment if they do away with the upper deck and turn it into the overhead space lacking claustrophobic cabin.
If we're talking 50Y or 42-44EC it almost sounds more like a 3x2 arrangement. Either way, 3 across up there would be nasty.
Wouldn't that make DL one of the only airlines to stick coach seats upstairs instead of having that for business or first? I think AF is the only other one that squishes pax up there. Certainly not becoming of a "world class" product, nor an "elite" or "exclusive" experience.
Honestly it sounds more like something RyanAir would do if they had a 747.
EDIT: Looks like Virgin Atlantic is the only other one... they put some Y seats upstairs behind the emergency exits along with their business class seats.
If we're talking 50Y or 42-44EC it almost sounds more like a 3x2 arrangement. Either way, 3 across up there would be nasty.
Wouldn't that make DL one of the only airlines to stick coach seats upstairs instead of having that for business or first? I think AF is the only other one that squishes pax up there. Certainly not becoming of a "world class" product, nor an "elite" or "exclusive" experience.
Honestly it sounds more like something RyanAir would do if they had a 747.
EDIT: Looks like Virgin Atlantic is the only other one... they put some Y seats upstairs behind the emergency exits along with their business class seats.
Apr 3, 2014, 7:39 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ontario, CAN
Posts: 5,813
Has this been confirmed?
I was ready to pull trigger on Z to MNL in October ..... DL was my choice mostly as a chance to ride upper deck on 747 before theyre gone.
I was ready to pull trigger on Z to MNL in October ..... DL was my choice mostly as a chance to ride upper deck on 747 before theyre gone.
Apr 3, 2014, 8:24 pm
#149
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Seems that Delta is looking for the tipping point between profits and BE travelers. EC is a moneymaker at the expense reducing BE seating in the 777 and 747, which should result in driving the cost of BE up. As loyal as I am to Delta, there is a point that what they offer in international BE doesn't jive with what they charge.
I spend enough of my life on airplanes that it isn't just a seat to a destination, and the experience and surroundings begin to matter. If the investment is in Y, and not improving, but charging more for the current BE experience, than One World begins to look more attractive.
I spend enough of my life on airplanes that it isn't just a seat to a destination, and the experience and surroundings begin to matter. If the investment is in Y, and not improving, but charging more for the current BE experience, than One World begins to look more attractive.
Apr 4, 2014, 7:51 am
#150
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I was chatting to a friend of mine who is a DL FA and they asked me to post this on their behalf -
"I have read through this entire thread - and I can say, it is true.
I am a FA and fly the 747 regularly. We started hearing this from our pilots a little before this thread was started. They did receive a memo about it. Apparently the reconfig will start in September - though I am not clear on the exact number of EC seats. When I first started to hear this, I thought surely it must be a rumor, since it sounded so ridiculous. We just spent a lot of money reconfiguring our 747s - and now this? But like many of you here, unfortunately that Delta would do this does not surprise me.
The pilots I have spoken with are not happy about it due to flight deck security concerns. We FAs are not happy about it because like you, we view the UD as a very desirable product for our HVCs, especially those who fly our 747 regularly. Those of us who fly the same routes have gotten to know many of our UD HVCs and know they request specific seats - and will be very unhappy about this change. That we are retiring our 747s as they come up for their D checks only makes this more of a waste. I am sure some bean counter has figured out it will be worth it somehow - but there must be a value on lost revenue due to unhappy HVCs.
While it may not help, I would encourage all HVCs who are unhappy with this to please write the company. They don't listen to us (employees) but maybe they will listen to you."
"I have read through this entire thread - and I can say, it is true.
I am a FA and fly the 747 regularly. We started hearing this from our pilots a little before this thread was started. They did receive a memo about it. Apparently the reconfig will start in September - though I am not clear on the exact number of EC seats. When I first started to hear this, I thought surely it must be a rumor, since it sounded so ridiculous. We just spent a lot of money reconfiguring our 747s - and now this? But like many of you here, unfortunately that Delta would do this does not surprise me.
The pilots I have spoken with are not happy about it due to flight deck security concerns. We FAs are not happy about it because like you, we view the UD as a very desirable product for our HVCs, especially those who fly our 747 regularly. Those of us who fly the same routes have gotten to know many of our UD HVCs and know they request specific seats - and will be very unhappy about this change. That we are retiring our 747s as they come up for their D checks only makes this more of a waste. I am sure some bean counter has figured out it will be worth it somehow - but there must be a value on lost revenue due to unhappy HVCs.
While it may not help, I would encourage all HVCs who are unhappy with this to please write the company. They don't listen to us (employees) but maybe they will listen to you."