The Cost of Airline Seats, literally
Apr 18, 2002 | 8:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: SQ, LH, AMEX, Citi, Cap1
Posts: 4,113
The Cost of Airline Seats, literally
After seeing a lot of enhancements that airlines have done in the past few years, in particular, business and first class seats, does anyone know how much each seat costs?
I know CO's new BusinessFirst seat costs $26,000 each. (Well, okay, probably including installation costs.)
I know that it cost BA $1 million/plane to install the new first class (way back when). So, that's about $80,000/seat. (Probably including installation costs.)
The seat in a fighter jet costs $80,000 because of the ejection system.
I'm curious about those antiquated coach seats that most airlines use, in particular, the ones with TVs and the ones without TVs.
I know CO's new BusinessFirst seat costs $26,000 each. (Well, okay, probably including installation costs.)
I know that it cost BA $1 million/plane to install the new first class (way back when). So, that's about $80,000/seat. (Probably including installation costs.)
The seat in a fighter jet costs $80,000 because of the ejection system.
I'm curious about those antiquated coach seats that most airlines use, in particular, the ones with TVs and the ones without TVs.
Apr 19, 2002 | 7:57 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
$26-80K sounds ridiculously high for a seat alone. This must be an average cost per seat including upgrading the entire cabin, AV system, etc.
A high-end car seat with leather, side airbag, massager, and full power is $1-2K at cost for a carmaker. Some of those car seats have magnesium frames, belt tensioners, built-in 3-point seatbelts (with reinforced seatbacks), active headrests, and fans; a business class seat can safely assumed to be no more complex than that.
In-seat entertainment systems, not being standardized, must carry high development costs and margins. The cost of the electronics involved is relatively minor, with a 15" TFT being around $350 at cost these days.
A high-end car seat with leather, side airbag, massager, and full power is $1-2K at cost for a carmaker. Some of those car seats have magnesium frames, belt tensioners, built-in 3-point seatbelts (with reinforced seatbacks), active headrests, and fans; a business class seat can safely assumed to be no more complex than that.
In-seat entertainment systems, not being standardized, must carry high development costs and margins. The cost of the electronics involved is relatively minor, with a 15" TFT being around $350 at cost these days.
Apr 20, 2002 | 11:54 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by monahos:
$26-80K sounds ridiculously high for a seat alone. This must be an average cost per seat including upgrading the entire cabin, AV system, etc.</font>
$26-80K sounds ridiculously high for a seat alone. This must be an average cost per seat including upgrading the entire cabin, AV system, etc.</font>
Apr 25, 2002 | 7:02 pm
#5
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Skystar:
I was told SQ's F Class seats cost 80,000 a piece, so Wiirachay, you're probably on the money.
Cheers,
Justin</font>
I was told SQ's F Class seats cost 80,000 a piece, so Wiirachay, you're probably on the money.
Cheers,
Justin</font>
Apr 29, 2002 | 6:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA GLD, Marriott PLT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,900
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by monahos:
$26-80K sounds ridiculously high for a seat alone. This must be an average cost per seat including upgrading the entire cabin, AV system, etc.
A high-end car seat with leather, side airbag, massager, and full power is $1-2K at cost for a carmaker. Some of those car seats have magnesium frames, belt tensioners, built-in 3-point seatbelts (with reinforced seatbacks), active headrests, and fans; a business class seat can safely assumed to be no more complex than that.
In-seat entertainment systems, not being standardized, must carry high development costs and margins. The cost of the electronics involved is relatively minor, with a 15" TFT being around $350 at cost these days.</font>
$26-80K sounds ridiculously high for a seat alone. This must be an average cost per seat including upgrading the entire cabin, AV system, etc.
A high-end car seat with leather, side airbag, massager, and full power is $1-2K at cost for a carmaker. Some of those car seats have magnesium frames, belt tensioners, built-in 3-point seatbelts (with reinforced seatbacks), active headrests, and fans; a business class seat can safely assumed to be no more complex than that.
In-seat entertainment systems, not being standardized, must carry high development costs and margins. The cost of the electronics involved is relatively minor, with a 15" TFT being around $350 at cost these days.</font>
Don't even think about saying that since a similair item for a car cost x, it must cost x or close to x in an airplane. Its not even *close*.