If airlines treat their economy class passengers extraordinary well

[Foreigner]

...they will win customer loyalty and have edge over the competition.

 

[horseman]

This may be true

 

[elbarto]

What makes you think they don't? Just because you're not getting the level of service you would get in J, doesn't mean you're getting bad service. The quality of service can also be very subjective.

 

[Foreigner]

What makes you think they don't? Just because you're not getting the level of service you would get in J, doesn't mean you're getting bad service. The quality of service can also be very subjective.

I believe in the adage 'You get what you pay for' but I'm just referring to numbers...there are far more travellers in the back of airplanes. It seems most well-known airlines make their business (and first class) the point of differentiation. I don't crunch numbers but I would think airlines which provide better-than-the-competition service for their economy class passengers will be more successful in the longer run.

 

[Hvr]

That assumes customers will pay a price premium for said service. I suggest most customers are more price sensitive than will pay for better service. Therefore, they will look for the cheapest carrier with only a few excluding factors.

 

[Conrad_S]

Mainstream carriers are probably trying to operate all flights as full as possible without devaluing the products through discounting. The challenges would appear to be delivering consistent product matching customer expectations.

 

[mannej]

I believe in the adage 'You get what you pay for' but I'm just referring to numbers...there are far more travellers in the back of airplanes. It seems most well-known airlines make their business (and first class) the point of differentiation. I don't crunch numbers but I would think airlines which provide better-than-the-competition service for their economy class passengers will be more successful in the longer run.

Your statement is very subjective. What is Better service in economy and what is not? Not everyone will agree, so not an easy thing to carry out.

All I can see an idea like that doing is a premise to driving up the prices. Not necessarily a good move...

 

[stewiejp]

All you could really do is compare different economy services and compare their rates. IMO Singapore and then Thai deliver the best international economy service I've had - Jetstar a hell of a lot worse, but they are LCC and a bit cheaper - but with the "added extras" the price difference isn't all that much.
Conversely I've flown Thai, Air Asia and Bangkok Air domestically/international under 2 hours out of SEA, and BKK Air (IMO) trumps the lot - and (at the time) all the prices were similar.

 

[Poisson]

It depends on a lot of factors, but I think the current favoured (by the airlines) model is to cram in as many seats as possible and provide the minimum level of food and other services you can get away with. Personally I would pay a reasonable premium for a bit of leg- and elbow-room, but it does depend on the length of the flight. Likewise I would pay a reasonable premium for a decent meal and some drinks.

Apart from personal space and victuals, there can be a huge difference simply by the attitude of the crew. A genuine smile and a sincere "welcome aboard" count for a lot. The snarling, surly attitude of American Airlines crews has had me swear off that carrier for life.

 

[JohnK]

Correct. If a customer gets treated quite well then would return to that airline without need to shop around for the sake of saving a few dollars here and there.

Unfortunately a lot of the modern airlines are not ferrying customers but rather cattle and treat everyone accordingly.

 

[Simo]

Correct. If a customer gets treated quite well then would return to that airline without need to shop around for the sake of saving a few dollars here and there.

Unfortunately a lot of the modern airlines are not ferrying customers but rather cattle and treat everyone accordingly.

Air travel now is more just like moving cattle.