More 1st Class Seats?
 

About a year ago TWA increased their 1st Class seats. Has any other airline done this? Has anyone heard of any airline that is planning increase 1st Class seats?

I thought I read somewhere that AA is/are/will incresing the number of first class seats ...

American has increased their 1st class cabin seat count from 14 to 20 on certain Super80s (according to AA it is 40% of their super 80- fleet and these planes will service the most popular routes (NY-Chicago, NY - Dallas, etc...)

A super 80 may now have 20 1st class seats, but even the smallest widebody has 28 first and/or business class seats...I read in the Washington Post recently that the average widebody has 44 first and business class seats. OF course, this doesn't matter if you frequent airlines with few widebodies or routes that do not feature them, but if you have a choice...

The smallest widebody has at least 28 seats? where do you get this? What is your definition of a widebody?

To me a widebody is an aircraft with more than one aisle, and I've been on quite a few Delta widebodies (767-200's, 767-300's, and L-1011's) that had less than 28 first class seats.

By the way, for me the important factor is not the number of first class seats, but the percentage of first class seats. I love the 757 because it has a high percentage of first class seats (24F + 159Y on Delta) relative to coach seats, thereby increasing my chances of getting an upgrade.

But, Beckles, if you don't get that upgrade, you're stuck with the tightest seating in the industry. And, if you happen to get stuck with a center seat in coach on a Delta 757, hope your flight is less than fifteen minutes long.

US Airways has increased F seating from 8 to 12 in narrowbodies, and up to 24 in 757/767.

Beckles: Perhaps the problem is your airline. United (with the most widebodies in the (US) industry) DC10-10s (with the least up fromt space)have 28 first class seats.

At the high end,the 747-400 has 36 first class and 123 business class. (thats more seats up fromt than most 737, 727, a320 or super-80s have on the entire plane).

Some others: 747-100 has 18 first and 70 business
767-300 has 34 first and 63 business.
777-200 has 12 first and 49 business.
There are others, but you get the idea.

As for the ratio, I flunked algebra, but I accept your supposition that *some* small planes have a better ratio.

One of the reasons I fly Untied, though is all the widebodies, and all those seats up front...

On United between LAX and Orlando, I used to always get upgraded because of the 757's 24 seats up front. Now that they are running an A320 on that route with only 12 seats up front, I rarely get upgraded. Someone mentioned how Delta's 757 is pure hell in coach. Well United's is no better...it truly is the worst coach experience in the skies. And that Galley just inches across the narrow aisle from the lavatory....yech!

It would be nice if ALL of the airlines could add a row or two of first class seats. OR in
the case of United, they should section off
more of the coach seats up front for Premier
and Mileage Plus members who can't get into
first.

Actually, maybe all airlines should section
off the first few rows of coach for their
members who can't get into business or first.
Exceptions: the elderly and disabled and
parents who need the first row for children.
When I have to fly coach I tell my airlines
to put me as close to the front of the plane
as possible.

Then PremEx and I don't have to get stuck near the galley next to the rest rooms. You
are right PremEx... Poor design. And yech. AND BLEH! CATMAN

Matt ~ The planes you're quoting capacities for are in a whole different class than 757's and 767's, and for the routes I fly on (MSY to DCA, HSV, and SAN are my most frequent) Delta offers the largest planes, which is all that matters when it comes down to it.

Catman ~ I thought most airlines now were holding the rows in the front of coach for elite members. I know for a fact this is the case on Delta, and I thought it was the case on some other airlines too ...

Air Canada reserves forward part of Economy for Elites and it really helps with tight connections when you can't get an upgrade.

I just travelled Aer Lingus and noted that they do not have a first class section on non-transatlantic flights -- they have replaced that section with wider seats for their premier members. Their setup is 3x3 with an extra 6-12 inches in total for the premier section. Maybe some airlines should consider this setup -- 1st class, then larger seats for "premeir" members and small seats for the rest of coach.

Jimliguy: FANTASTIC idea for "elite-seats", but I won't hold my breath.

Beckles: Good point. United has a "gateway" hub at Dulles, which (in addition to the widebodies) affected my choice pretty significantly. And BTW, in all fairness, the 747-400 with all the seats up front are used almost exclusively on trans-pacific flights...