WSJ: LH To Launch A380 on FRA-JFK [merged first sheduled A380 destination thread]
Nov 7, 2009, 1:04 am
#16
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Nov 7, 2009, 2:35 am
#19
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LH is known to have talked about 550 - setting a record on A380 and surpassing 538 of Air France.
Unbelievable config in First class for such a huge whale. How come they reduce the number of seats in first class from 16 seats onboard the 744 to only 8 seats on such huge airplane
LH plans are to have First in front of upper deck, right? Like Emirates?
Ahead of the first upper deck doors, SQ has 18 J seats (4 and a half rows of 4 abreast - J continues behind), EK has 14 R suites (3 and a half rows of 4 abreast), QF has 18 J seats (3 rows at 6 abreast - J continues behind) and AF has 26 J seats (4 and a half rows at 6 abreast - J continues behind).
8 seats of First, 2 rows at 4 abreast, would be plausible, and resemble the LH A340 First. Although on A380, both QF and EK get at least 3 rows of full flat seats there - what features will LH R have?
Nov 7, 2009, 2:39 am
#20
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And keep in mind, 8 pax can be served by 2 FAs. More require a third FA (at least per todays definiton) and that is extra labour cost for LH.
Nov 7, 2009, 2:45 am
#21
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Nov 7, 2009, 2:50 am
#22
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I assume that the average M&M customer (status aside) usually books C awards. As long as they stay available the way they are now, most customers will not be unhappy.
Now, it will be interesting to see if awards in the same cabin cost differently among different aircraft types.
Let's say LH400/401 stays B747 and LH404/405 becomes A380, most customers (who care) will try to get on the newer aircraft, therefore higher demand.
Now, it will be interesting to see if awards in the same cabin cost differently among different aircraft types.
Let's say LH400/401 stays B747 and LH404/405 becomes A380, most customers (who care) will try to get on the newer aircraft, therefore higher demand.
Nov 7, 2009, 4:28 am
#23
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Nov 7, 2009, 4:29 am
#24
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Nov 7, 2009, 4:32 am
#25
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Nov 7, 2009, 4:35 am
#26
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It will probably be catching C awards in the beginning and based on ones status get waitlisted for F awards. May clear a day for departure (outbound and inbound separate, of course) and require a 50 EUR rebooking fee twice and per pax.
Worked that way for me already this year, since we were flying on very popular and fully overbooked flights. I would be okay with that approach.
Worked that way for me already this year, since we were flying on very popular and fully overbooked flights. I would be okay with that approach.
Nov 7, 2009, 4:53 am
#27
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It will probably be catching C awards in the beginning and based on ones status get waitlisted for F awards. May clear a day for departure (outbound and inbound separate, of course) and require a 50 EUR rebooking fee twice and per pax.
Worked that way for me already this year, since we were flying on very popular and fully overbooked flights. I would be okay with that approach.
Worked that way for me already this year, since we were flying on very popular and fully overbooked flights. I would be okay with that approach.
Nov 7, 2009, 5:04 am
#28
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Nov 7, 2009, 5:21 am
#29
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Which it would be. By my guesstimate, it means reducing seat count from 330 to about 190.
Meaning 16 pax require a fourth FA?
But there already is issue with different number and quality of F on different frames.
B747 - 16 available F
A330/A340 - just 8 F available.
B747 - 4 seats abreast cramped into a 747 upper deck, less spacious than 737. Single aisle, no window seat aisle access. Restricted headroom.
A330/A340 - also 4 abreast. But on a widebody - two aisles, all seats aisle access, plentiful headroom.
Do LH passengers try to get First awards on A330/A340 rather than 747?
Corrected already. Again:
EK = 14
SQ = 12
QF = 14
AF = 9
LH = 8
And keep in mind, 8 pax can be served by 2 FAs. More require a third FA (at least per todays definiton) and that is extra labour cost for LH.
Now, it will be interesting to see if awards in the same cabin cost differently among different aircraft types.
Let's say LH400/401 stays B747 and LH404/405 becomes A380, most customers (who care) will try to get on the newer aircraft, therefore higher demand.
Let's say LH400/401 stays B747 and LH404/405 becomes A380, most customers (who care) will try to get on the newer aircraft, therefore higher demand.
B747 - 16 available F
A330/A340 - just 8 F available.
B747 - 4 seats abreast cramped into a 747 upper deck, less spacious than 737. Single aisle, no window seat aisle access. Restricted headroom.
A330/A340 - also 4 abreast. But on a widebody - two aisles, all seats aisle access, plentiful headroom.
Do LH passengers try to get First awards on A330/A340 rather than 747?
EK = 16
SQ = 12
QF = 14
LH = 8
SQ = 12
QF = 14
LH = 8
EK = 14
SQ = 12
QF = 14
AF = 9
LH = 8
Nov 7, 2009, 5:23 am
#30
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Yep, hearing the Wolf articulating the word "enhancements" was priceless! ^
Joking aside, I think he was very impressive. The highlight of the day.
Nah, this is typical marketing lingo within all corporations. "We are the good guys, we want to offer you stuff but, you know, those bean counters..."
Actually he sounded pretty determined about it. He (claimed that he) is just trying to find the proper way to implement this. Very correct in its philosophy and fair, IMHO. However, depending on the specific way it will be implemented it may create frictions.
Bottomline is that LH acknowledges the necessity to restore incentives (for flying) through conditioning redemption priority on status and (maybe) bringing back e-vouchers as a function of flying.
I highly doubt this, although it depends on your definition of "typical". Is it average? Median? Wrt time? Number of miles? number of flown miles? By-and-large, IMHO most awards are in Y. That's exactly what makes FFPs profitable. 
Joking aside, I think he was very impressive. The highlight of the day.
Bottomline is that LH acknowledges the necessity to restore incentives (for flying) through conditioning redemption priority on status and (maybe) bringing back e-vouchers as a function of flying.