Air NZ economy "Bed Seat"
Graham Harrison
introduce an economy class bed seat. Apparently it will only be offered on
check in because it depends on spare seats being available and it will cost
$150 per segment (I wonder if that's US or NZD?).
As someone that quite often uses premium economy products I think I'd be a
bit unhappy if someone back in economy was able to lie down to sleep when I
can't (there is no suggestion this will be available for PE seats). I
recognise that the proposal is effectively only available on a space
available basis and, as such, my decision to buy PE at peak times will still
be justified but I'm a bit surprised to see an airline apparently
undermining their "premium" offering.
Roland Perry
Mon, 2 Nov 2009, Graham Harrison
<edward.h...@remove.btinternet.com> remarked:
Sure it's not an upgrade to business class? BA were offering such a
thing, transatlantic, at about that price a few years ago (as a way to
wean people off expecting a free upgrade if they were a frequent flyer
and spare seats were available).
If so, common sense would indicate that it was offered to PE ticket
holders first, then only to economy ticket holders if still available.
--
Roland Perry
Neil Williams
<edward.h...@remove.btinternet.com> wrote:
>There are various reports around the web that Air New Zealand is going to
>introduce an economy class bed seat. Apparently it will only be offered on
>check in because it depends on spare seats being available and it will cost
>$150 per segment (I wonder if that's US or NZD?).
Is that just a way to officially lie down across 4 seats (which tends
to happen on quiet flights anyway)?
Bit sneaky charging for it if it is - will there be the "oi, you - sit
bolt upright!" police during the flight?
Neil
--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.
Graham Harrison
"Neil Williams" <wensl...@pacersplace.org.uk> wrote in message
news:4aef60aa....@news.individual.net...
The reports aren't totally clear what's happening e.g.
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/economy-flyers-fantasy-realised-a-bed-for-150-20091022-hbhc.html
but it's definitely supposed to be economy and some form of new seat so
maybe it will no longer be possible to lift the armrests to sleep across 3/4
to avoid the bed police!
Roland Perry
Tue, 3 Nov 2009, Graham Harrison
<edward.h...@remove.btinternet.com> remarked:
>so maybe it will no longer be possible to lift the armrests to sleep
>across 3/4 to avoid the bed police!
I notice from some recent Air France/KLM flights in Business class
within Europe that they still have 3+3 seating, but leave the centre one
empty. Unfortunately the armrests are fixed, so all you get is extra
elbow-room, not extra hip-room.
20 years ago BA used to have dual-use seating that could be set to 2+2
or 3+3 by fiddling with armrests. Of course, today we wouldn't find that
kind of seating acceptable long-haul in Business class.
--
Roland Perry
Neil Williams
wrote:
>I notice from some recent Air France/KLM flights in Business class
>within Europe that they still have 3+3 seating, but leave the centre one
>empty.
If they're doing that, that's an improvement. Previously, the
difference between business and economy on KLM was, umm, err, a
slightly better sandwich and slightly more legroom, which you could
also get by sitting near the front of Economy or in an exit row.
(I remember once being "upgraded" from an exit row window seat to a
business middle. The food was nice, but otherwise I was
unimpressed...)