Cathay Pacific to roll out Premium Economy seating

[cosi]

Changes in passenger demand have convinced Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) to install a Premium Economy product, creating a fourth class in cabins across its network.

Announcing the airline’s return to profitability, Christopher Pratt, CX chairman, said that while passenger traffic and prices for Business Class had been rising the past four to five months, passenger yields had still to return to 2007 levels.

In such altered business conditions, a Premium Economy cabin could help capture a clientele looking to trade down from Business Class – for reasons of cost cutting – and as well as those wanting to trade up from Economy.

Pratt reported that CX was keen to roll out the new seats by 2012.

Competitors British Airways, Qantas Airlines and Singapore Airlines feature Premium Economy seating.

I wonder which Australian Ports will get the new product?

 

[Ric]

Slighty OT but did a CX online check in and found out that that have started to charge for exit rows:
You have selected an Extra-legroom Seat. To enjoy this seat, an additional charge of USD 25 or Asia Miles 5,000 applies.

Please read the Terms & Conditions carefully before you book OR click the "Close" button to select another seat and continue checking in.



To book, please call:

• Your local reservations for credit card or cash payments
• Asia Miles Service Hotline: (852) 2747-3838 (24 hours) for Asia Miles redemption.

After payment, please log in to check in online with your Extra-legroom Seat secured



That's for MNL-HKG. Anyone know when they started this. AFAIK, it was not there in Jan.

 

[samh004]

I wonder which Australian Ports will get the new product?

And I wonder what this will mean for point and SC earning with Qf, will there be any bonus?

Slighty OT but did a CX online check in and found out that that have started to charge for exit rows

That's for MNL-HKG. Anyone know when they started this. AFAIK, it was not there in Jan.

Umm I can’t recall when it started, but some time last year I think, they just haven’t been enforcing it much. I know my dad now has issue when arranging tickets as he can’t get an exit row pre-allocated until the ticket is ticketed with his number, at which point an exit row is complementary (OWE).

Took a little searching, but see here, CX joins the "charging for exit-row pack" - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[wtolmie]

This is great news as I fly CX alot... I wonder which product they will use.. Im not a fan of BA's PE seats.. QF is quite comfortable. Maybe use the new AirNZ product ?

 

[JohnK]

If premium economy is going to replace (some) business class seats then I am afraid this does not sound too good for the cheap business class airfares on offer at the moment.

 

[dajop]

Competitors British Airways, Qantas Airlines and Singapore Airlines feature Premium Economy seating.

(not sure of source)

Aaah, BA & QF Yes. SQ - no - not since their A340s where converted to all J configs.

 

[anat0l]

(not sure of source)

Aaah, BA & QF Yes. SQ - no - not since their A340s where converted to all J configs.

So I thought too....SQ are 3 class only.

In any case, it'd be interesting to see what CX come up with for a Y+ product. Then which routes they will roll them out on (perhaps medium to long long-haul).

 

[cosi]

So I thought too....SQ are 3 class only.

Business Traveller Asia Pacific have updated the story by deleting Singapore Airlines.

 

[JohnK]

Aaah, BA & QF Yes. SQ - no - not since their A340s where converted to all J configs.

Obviously they do not consider TG a serious competitor.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I didn't think TG had premium Y seating. And I will be on the queue to sample the CX product.

Cheers skip

 

[wandering_fred]

Given that QF is/will be very reluctant to install Y+ on the A330s CX have an opportunity to impact QFs routes to HKG from BNE/ADL/PER. The important question will be the price point for the associated fares. BA/QF seem to price in the B/H range - depending on sales and demand - for the entry level with flexible seats 50% higher. And of course the influence of a through fare - PER-HKG-LAX being directly competitve with PER-SYD-LAX and PER-SYD totally lacking Y+.

Alas I am coming to the conclusion that I will have LCC flights PER-SIN in my future if I want competitive long haul fares.

Just some wandering thoughts

Fred

 

[oz_mark]

Alas I am coming to the conclusion that I will have LCC flights PER-SIN in my future if I want competitive long haul fares.

So do you want Tiger to introduce Y+ seating on their PER-SIN services?:shock:

 

[wandering_fred]

So do you want Tiger to introduce Y+ seating on their PER-SIN services?:shock:

Actually a bit of a misconnect on the subject.

The Y fares on QF are losing their lustre. And I see no fare bargains in ANY class exPER
And the XL seats on Air Asia are looking interesting.

In the end I'd rather spend 5 hours slumming it for a reasonable long haul seat at a reasonable price (which I don't see exPER at the risk of repeating myself) Maybe CX introducing Y+ would change that.
I was not impressed with the CX 330s in Y.

Fred

 

[Flying Fox]

Given that QF is/will be very reluctant to install Y+ on the A330s ....

I didn't know/realise that.

 

[wandering_fred]

I didn't know/realise that.

Well the A330 FAs I talked with were pretty adamant that Y+ on A330 will not happen.

I think a financial case could be made for international flights (unless regularly departing 90%+ as is) but the FA said they are used for domestic occasionally - which is apparently another reason not to.

Speculatively wandering

Fred

 

[Flying Fox]

...the FA said they are used for domestic occasionally - which is apparently another reason not to...

OK that would make more sense but I think that its a shame since the do fly international J domestically on occasion too.

 

[notzac]

...but the FA said they are used for domestic occasionally - which is apparently another reason not to.

That doesn't make much sense - given that the domestic J seats are fairly similar to international Y+ seats, one would think that they could sit non-status pax in the Y+ section and status pax in the J section for domestic ops. *shrug*