rylan

Seems strange to me that they would create another subfleet of equip that ends up only being usable on these routes...

Zorak

If I understand correctly they're not creating a new subfleet -- the plan is to fly domestic F configs on these routes and market it as PE/PS?

jdrtravel

That is also how I am understanding it, but right now they are pushing this particular hard product hard as being what PS is, so I wonder how they will spin that?

Why not just call it business class like they do with south of the border flights?

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...m-economy.html

readywhenyouare

They were complaining about the width. The width is shameful for a premium product.

hockeyinsider

They were. Delta was occasionally flying domestic-configured 757s to Iceland before this change, but the price wasn't competitive for the product. And instead of downgrading to domestic first-class, where a complimentary upgrade would be expected, they decided downgrade to the new money-maker, premium-economy.

EBiafore99

I wonder if this is the start of a product similar to Air Canada Rouge. AC determined aircraft with Business, Premium Economy and Economy just didn't work on certain TATL routes since they were more leisure oriented. So, AC designated certain aircraft as AC Rouge with only Economy and Premium Economy...and yes, the Premium Economy on Rouge is different than the Premium Economy on AC mainline aircraft.

I don't necessarily disagree with Delta on this...if the route doesn't support a D1 product, it makes no senses to put one on the route. In terms of "class confusion", I agree this "new" service by Delta creates class confusion, but I've learned that not just a Delta problem. Every large airline is in a state of transition all of the time. UA is introducing Polaris, AA still has ancient 767s flying long haul along with new aircraft with all of the bells and whistles, etc.

At the end of the day, I've learned nothing is guaranteed when you book a seat. That is the same at all airlines, not just Delta. However, I prefer Delta because Delta seems to be more "compassionate" with service issues. I've been on flights where pizza has been ordered when there's a flight delay, snack carts have been rolled out at the gate, etc. Again, this is just my opinion.

rylan

So its really just an entirely marketing move with no change in equip, and probably a minimal if any change in on board soft product/service?
If they're going to just use the standard domestic config, then it is an improvement in seat width compared to PS, but a reduction in pitch.

xliioper

No doubt they will just be domestic config aircraft. Really makes no sense to have a special sub-fleet such a small set of destinations. NW did have some "interport" 757's for the NRT hub, but they had more destinations back then and you couldn't easily swap those aircraft in and out on US domestic routes.

jdrtravel

Most domestic F pitch is 37" and PS is 38", not a huge deal. I think the bigger issue is that PS is advertised as having a leg rest, which people will be disappointed to not have, especially on a TATL redeye.

dilbertsdaddy

For Iceland, it really does not matter because the competition is Icelandair and their FC is crap.

For the longer ones this is bad.........

sky303

Not surprising, but you seem to have confused the terms shameful and comparable. LMK when you find the XXWB version of the 350, in the meantime this is literally the industry standard.

hockeyinsider

I wouldn't want to fly Icelandair's business-class (Saga) on the longest routes the airline flies, but from New York-J.F.K. it's pretty comparable to Delta's domestic first-class that is now being rebranded premium-economy for flights to/from Iceland. For example, the pitch is 40 inches on Icelandair. There are also leg rests.

How much longer is Shannon? Maybe an hour longer than New York-J.F.K. to Iceland? I could totally see Delta also doing this to Glasgow and Dublin.

Still, I think from a marketing standpoint this further confuses the brand, the classes of service and the expectations. For years, Delta has advertised a lie-flat seat on every transatlantic flight.

pvn

anyone? It wasn't a rhetorical question, I actually don't know if KEF was treated like northern South America cities like BOG or what?

hockeyinsider

There were some scattered reports of it working.

hockeyinsider

According to next summer's schedule, the New York-J.F.K. flight leaves for Iceland at 9 p.m. The meal service is listed as breakfast for main cabin and comfort-plus, but dinner, breakfast, snacks and drinks for premium-economy. That means the earliest dinner could be served is probably 9:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. -- 45 minutes to 1 hour after departure. That's not exactly ideal.

Also, premium-economy won't come with Sky Club access unless you have status to get entry. It would be nice if the flights were daytime, instead of overnight.

By the way, the aircraft will have satellite TV, which may actually work for part of the flight.

I wonder what happens to customers who purchased business-class and now won't get that experience.