Box5

Back in the early days of the jet age, there was first class and economy. A few years later and for many years, a 6th seat was squeezed into the Boeing 707 in economy and that became the standard. The closest thing to that is Icelandair's 757, which has business class (old style first class) and economy.

Now we're seeing quite a few flat beds in international business class and premium economy is growing. Soon there will be 3 classes again, business, premium economy, and economy. A few still have first class.

I doubt business class will have cabins unless you consider British Airways Club World window seats as tiny cabins. Economy will likely stay the same as suggestions of a bicycle type seat and half standing may take a long time to come to place.

What about premium economy? Will we ever see old first class type seats (reclines more and wider)? How about the less common angle flat business seats? Would you pay for economy class style reduced service and an angle flat seat? Maybe I would????

In short.....
first class - largely eliminated
business class - flat bed seats
premium economy - like domestic (USA) first class or angle flat seats
economy - same like it is now
?????

lazard

first class will never be eliminated (on international carriers). 4 cabins will be the standard.

Box5

With flat bed seats, there doesn't seem to be that much added value to F. The seat is probably a little bit wider and the meal service a little fancier. I don't think many will offer showers in flight. Maybe they could someday offer a queen sized bed?

CitizenWorld

They already do in certain "Suites" class rooms

Box5

I am behind the times! Ok, maybe they will offer a bathtub and an adjacent sitting room/office? Emirates A380-900?

drewp123

They already do! Etihad's Residences

nkedel

There seems to be a very big gap in what qualifies as Premium Economy, but I doubt we'll see angle-flat seats in there unless someone figures out a clever way of packing them in a good deal more densely. Relatively few of them even have a full leg-rest recliner seat...

HMO

It depends on the route. There are some int'l routes with 2 cabins only ^

BRITINJAPAN3

Am I missing something, ANA, Virgin at least Premium Economy have seats just like old US domestic F, is wider, more leg room

Sixth Freedom

BA currently operates World Traveller Plus in 2-4-2 configuration on 777 and 747 aircraft, with eight seats across at 38" pitch. The old-style Club World seats I remember before the flat beds came along were 2-3-2, with seven seats across at approximately 50" pitch.

This means that 32 World Traveller Plus seats take up approximately the same space as 21 old-style Club World seats. For premium economy to become like the old business class on BA they would need to give up 34% of their seats.

If it does happen, it will probably take many decades.

But let's not forget that BA subsidiary Open Skies operates both flat beds and old-style business class seats. bmi did too when they were operating longhaul.

This is certainly not the case.

erik123

Openskies (BA) already has this. PE has a 48 pitch (and is very much like old CW). Others with near old business seats include NZ on some 777s.

lhrsfo

The newer style PE on BA is very like domestic US F.

ioto1902

I've been flying for forty years. Not one year without LH flight.
Back then, FCL looked like today's second tier JCL offers, with just reclining seats and not "suites". FCL offer has improved a lot, but, at the same time, YCL deteriorated a lot : reduced width, reduced pitch, cheap food, no more amenities, no more gifts (I still got that PanAm "pilot" pin, or TWA booklets).
In my opinion, WCL is just becoming what YCL was and should be. But we are probably less and less to think that ...