Many airlines are upgrading their business class products to offer bed style seating (BA) or increasing the seat pitch to a minimum 60 inches(NW, KLM, Sabena).
The difference between first and business class is increasingly becoming blurred and the reserve of either the wealthy or top executives and surely many more airlines will question the validity of first class? The latest to do so was Northwest who have phased out first whilst at the same time improving their business class product with a 60 inch seat pitch.
By: james - 5th May 2001 at 17:31
RE: A bed too far?
I think Virgin’s idea of premium economy is great. The leap in sevice and price from economy to business/first is severe. None but the Elite can afford it. We’re not talking paying twice as much, its more like ten times as much! Almost to the point of unacceptability.
Having an intermidiate class such as virgin’s pe, with a realistic price tag makes flying in a little more comfort accessable. Im sure premium economy has a bigger market than business/first. Im not saying that business/first would lose its customers to it, more that a healthy proportion of economy passengers would take advantage of it.
Far more people could budget for premium economy and enjoy extra comfort. Good one Virgin!!
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October 26, 2000 at 6:26 pm