QF - Little demand for Y+ into Asia

[Isochronous]

I think the reason PE has little success for QF is lack of advertising. QF actually offers a great product, much better then most airlines but the problem is not people don't know about it.
I have many friends who fly to Asia with QF and they automatically book either Y or J. When I ask why they don't consider PE the answer is usually: 'isn't it just a normal seat with some extra legroom? Why should I pay extra for that?'
This is obviously incorrect and when I try to explain the PE product is closer to J in terms of service and comfort with a price much closer to Y I always get looks of disbelief.
This is such a great product but if people are not aware of it, they will simply not book it.

Exactly. But instead millions are splurged on Jetstar TV ads or train station billboard for Jetstar in HK instead of promoting QF services and the new QF lounge in Asia's number 1 business city. Idiots.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Duh Qantas, if there's very little supply, it follows there's very little demand.

 

[TomVexille]

Exactly. But instead millions are splurged on Jetstar TV ads or train station billboard for Jetstar in HK instead of promoting QF services and the new QF lounge in Asia's number 1 business city. Idiots.

Correct. I know people that are SOOO excited to fly JQ "Business" which as we know is pretty much the same hard product with inferior soft product.

 

[JohnK]

You seriously think that QF Y is as good as PE?

I am one of those that thinks Qantas economy is just as good if not better than the CX premium economy product I have sampled.

 

[TomVexille]

I am one of those that thinks Qantas economy is just as good if not better than the CX premium economy product I have sampled.

Would your opinion be the same if you could not access a bulkhead or exit row seat?

 

[JohnK]

Would your opinion be the same if you could not access a bulkhead or exit row seat?

Yes.

The CX economy product is underwhelming and for better than half the price I get Qantas economy including domestic connections.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes.

The CX economy product is underwhelming and for better than half the price I get Qantas economy including domestic connections.

And if someone else was paying?

 

[JohnK]

And if someone else was paying?

That is for another discussion in another thread.

 

[lovestotravel]

So many armchair experts!

 

[TomVexille]

That is for another discussion in another thread.

Doesn't answer the question if you think that QF Y > CX PE if the price was the same or someone else paid.

 

[Groundfeeder]

I'm sure that many pax would buy Y and then put in for points upgrades to Y+ or J. QF could then clear some of their points liabilities.

I have been unsuccessful in this Y+ endeavour between BNE-SIN-BNE on several occasions (on B744 service).
No demand??

 

[JohnK]

Doesn't answer the question if you think that QF Y > CX PE if the price was the same or someone else paid.

If someone else was paying I would still go for QF 747 or A380 economy with the hope of an upgrade to business or premium economy.

By the way I have paid for premium economy on QF and BA when I could see value. I have also tried VS premium economy.

 

[yohy?!]

You seriously think that QF Y is as good as PE?

Not me personally, I have taken advantage of quite a few good PE fares on QF ex HKG.... but I think generally for the market (read not frequent flyers) the cost versus Y just doesnt add up

 

[smeacs]

I might not be in the same ball park here but I have always looked at PE and decided it costs too much and I’ll suffer in Y. I have been in a JAL PE and the extra space was really nice but Air NZ Y was very comparable. JAL’s old aircraft have very little legroom.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I agree with some other comments here about supply & cathay. Additionally I personally always thought they should have given it a different name.
Premium Economy makes me think it's economy with a bit extra.

The original PE (and very successful) - World Traveller Plus (BA) - has no psychological connection to it being related with an economy product.

Maybe if it was called Executive Class where you don't immediately compare it to economy/business it may sit better with some travellers.

 

[Austman]

I recently flew CX PE HKG-MEL. For just over AUD200.00 more than CX Y, I thought it was excellent value. And as it earned 110% QFF points v 50% QFF points, it made the price difference more attractive.

I thought the CX PE hard product was quite good. Certainly a wider seat with more pitch and a bigger armrest area - which was the major plus for me. Then there were pre-flight drinks, OK meals (but not J standard) and OK drinks (but not J standard). A few other pluses too but the seating was the biggest plus for me over standard Y in CX or QF.

 

[moa999]

I recently flew CX PE HKG-MEL. For just over AUD200.00 more than CX Y, I thought it was excellent value. And as it earned 110% QFF points v 50% QFF points, it made the price difference more attractive.

I thought the CX PE hard product was quite good. Certainly a wider seat with more pitch and a bigger armrest area - which was the major plus for me. Then there were pre-flight drinks, OK meals (but not J standard) and OK drinks (but not J standard). A few other pluses too but the seating was the biggest plus for me over standard Y in CX or QF.

The issue is would you be willing to pay more than A$200.
Given the extra space that seat takes up (versus Y) and the extra cost in food/ beverages etc, I suspect CX would have been making more money had you bought the Y seat.

 

[Austman]

The issue is would you be willing to pay more than A$200.
Given the extra space that seat takes up (versus Y) and the extra cost in food/ beverages etc, I suspect CX would have been making more money had you bought the Y seat.

Well the AUD224.00 for PE was a 40% increase over the Y price of AUD552.00 (travel was CAN-HKG-MEL).

 

[Happy Trails]

The thing to remember is that it's 'little demand' in Qantas-speak, just as there was little demand for chauffeur drive on US flights.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The thing to remember is that it's 'little demand' in Qantas-speak, just as there was little demand for chauffeur drive on US flights.

Bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy really. Like "Since stopping International services from Adelaide, we've noted reduced demand for QFi in South Australia".