Premium economy coming spring 2022
 

I just hope vouchers are still from Y -> J still after this.

But premium economy was long time coming. All of their joint venture partners have it and for many airlines it's best profiting class in their aircraft.

Let's see if Y+ is a new ticket type and new fare or is it Y ticket and then Y+ available as ancillary service.

Exactly . Press release says they are still evaluating business model. What is decided though is that it will be a separate cabin with a separate concept. But thechnically it could still be the same business model as for current comfort, just with a better offer.

And of course launching this new Economy Premium it is great opportunity to drop out included meals, drinks and luggage in basic Y class.

Very interesting. A welcome change but at the same time this raises so many questions. What will happen to upgrades by points or vouchers? Will AY improve the J cabin and catering to distinguish it from PE, or will they make Y worse, or both? Will Y+ disappear? What about the price point? If the average Y ticket costs €700 and the average J ticket €2700, how much will an average PE ticket cost? €1700? Accrual 150 %?

The biggest question, I guess, is the impact on J loads. Today's PE seats are almost as good as an intercontinental J seat in the year 2000. How many pax will move from J to PE when it becomes available?

Are there any airlines out there who have a separate PE cabin class but only sell it as an ancillary service?

It is quite obvious that direct upgrade to J will seize to exist, likely a scaled upgrade model is implemented:
i.e. 20 kP for Economy premium
+50k for business ( I would not be surprised if the total sum would exceed current 50k)

What really matters is whether direct two class upgrades will be allowed or not. Worst case is that only one class upgrade is possible, but naturally it all depends on price points.

Vouchers might be more difficult but that might be something where "direct" upgrades would be possible as they are truly granted for loyalty. Once again, as long as upgrades are allowed to all booking classes, no problems, but one could easily also see that upgrades from light-fares will not be possible.

Realistically it's not going to materially differ from what the many other airlines that have introduced PE have done. It's an established price/product proposition and relatively standardised

I have a really healthy AY points balance and use them for SH and LH upgrades everytime when it makes sense. It would be disappointing if basic Y ticket could not be upgraded to J anymore, but only to PE. Of course if PE would have a nice seat, excellent food and attentive service then I don't even need J anymore. :rolleyes:

This. I wonder how many company accounts will make the same reasoning.

It's interesting how the three-class concept has come full circle. Some twenty years ago, airlines routinely offered three classes of service: Economy, Business and First. BA was probably the only major carrier to offer WT+, a fourth class of travel.

Today, airlines again routinely offer three classes of service: Business with a hard product that is, in many cases, better or at par with the First of yesteryear; Premium Economy with a hard product comparable to old Business and Economy with harder, narrower and tighter seats than in old Economy.

Me too,

The US carriers take an interesting approach with their long haul vouchers, where members can choose if they upgrade to C or W from Y depending on the availability.