New BA Premium Economy

[ozmille]

(Can't find another thread on this as it is a bit old news)
It seems BA are finally getting rid of their old WT+ seats and getting some new ones. They seem quite nice and more spacious then the old ones (which I would not pay the money for).

World Traveller Plus - Preview our new cabin - British Airways

 

[simongr]

Doesnt look like a huge step up from the old product. Looking through the BA site - it seems they will not be doing a refit of this on older product - just new aircraft.


The new World Traveller Plus experience is available right now on the latest addition to our fleet, the state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ER, operating on selected flights to and from Mumbai, Chicago, Delhi and Dubai.

Two more fully fitted brand-new 777-300ERs will enter service by the end of 2010, with further additions to the fleet scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012.

 

[Keith009]

Maybe the lighting in those pics isn't the best, but for some reason the old seats seem to look plusher? These look a bit like the dreadful slimline seats a lot of airlines have in whY.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

when an airline brings in PE for around 30% over the Y seat coast i'll be choosing them for most of my travel.

i still don't understand why they charge at least double a y seat for what is in effect just 25% or so of extra real estate, and worse, if you get the row to yourself you can't enjoy the extra space due to the middle arm rest not being moveable

 

[ozmille]

when an airline brings in PE for around 30% over the Y seat coast i'll be choosing them for most of my travel.

i still don't understand why they charge at least double a y seat for what is in effect just 25% or so of extra real estate, and worse, if you get the row to yourself you can't enjoy the extra space due to the middle arm rest not being moveable

Very true, in my opinion PE is extremely overpriced. Unfortunately enough due to GFC our corporate policy has now changed to PE for travel to Europe...

 

[ozmille]

Maybe the lighting in those pics isn't the best, but for some reason the old seats seem to look plusher? These look a bit like the dreadful slimline seats a lot of airlines have in whY.

They look a lot like the QF ones and I would take QF PE any day over BA WTP+

Still if they are only to be fitted on the 773 I guess we wont get to see them down under anyway.

 

[NM]

when an airline brings in PE for around 30% over the Y seat coast i'll be choosing them for most of my travel.

i still don't understand why they charge at least double a y seat for what is in effect just 25% or so of extra real estate, and worse, if you get the row to yourself you can't enjoy the extra space due to the middle arm rest not being moveable

Often the cost is within the ballpark you mention, when compared with the fully flexible economy fares. But if you are comparing to the cheap discount economy fares then its always going to be a significant price premium. I used some QF R class fares last year that were cheaper than a Y fare and about the same as a B fare. Of course the R fare comes with more restrictions than the fully flexible B fare (cancellation/change fees, limited availability) so they are only of use to me when my travel dates are firmly locked-in, which is not very often. QF's T fares are generally around 20% price premium over B, while the fully flexible W fares come at a premium price that targets J- rather than Y+ mindset.

 

[JohnK]

when an airline brings in PE for around 30% over the Y seat coast i'll be choosing them for most of my travel.

I am prepared to pay ~50% (max ~100%) more than economy for premium economy tickets.

From memory BA WT+ purchased from SIN and BKK was only ~50% more expensive than economy. I did 2 returns SIN-SYD on the 777 and 1 return BKK-SYD on the 747. I actually like the seats and service and pre-allocated bulkhead each time. Much better leg room than QF premium economy bulkhead on 747.

And then QF came along with their premium economy product and BA airfares skyrocketed.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

when an airline brings in PE for around 30% over the Y seat coast i'll be choosing them for most of my travel.

i still don't understand why they charge at least double a y seat for what is in effect just 25% or so of extra real estate, and worse

Thing to remember is that premium cabin pricing is a black art for the airlines. That cheap $998 Y seat you pay for SYD/BNE-DFW is more than likely a loss leader for the airline to spark your interest; and the average Y seat price for your flight around the $2-2.5K mark once you factor in B, H and Y class sales accross the ~200 economy seats per flight.

So when Y+ is priced from 3K, it's not double but actually around 20% more.

It's not that Y+ is expensive, it's that Y is too cheap and therefore the perception is that Y+ is overpriced.

Also keep in mind that airlines sell seats based on value, rather than price. In this sense, folks up the front are paying for everyone down the back.

 

[wyvern]

The new seats look good but the main thing lacking in BA prem econ is an enhanced food/drink offering. The benefit of prem econ is full mile and status credts even on a discounted prem econ fare, and the ability to use miles for upgrade if a BAEC member.

 

[Timba-Jet]

The new seats look good but the main thing lacking in BA prem econ is an enhanced food/drink offering.

I was on a LHR-JFK BA flight last week. Sitting in the 2nd row of economy, I had a good look at goings in WT+ cabin.

Though I was impressed with seats, looked comfy and good space, when the FAs rolled Up the economy F&B cart to start in WT+ then continued down economy, I was more than happy to be in Y.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

when the FAs rolled Up the economy F&B cart to start in WT+ then continued down economy, I was more than happy to be in Y.

:O :O :shocked:

 

[Timba-Jet]

:O :O :shocked:

Well, much prefer F/J lol!
But I was happy with my el cheapo Y fare, compared to the extra $$$ of WT+ to only get same F&B as Y.

 

[rhjames]

I flew BA premium economy Bangkok to Sydney last week. I was happy with the seats - good leg room, and reasonable tilt. Comfortable enough, though still a long way from business class. The evening meal was just good enough for economy class. The entertainment system was adaquate, except for the deafening hiss when a show ended - even the stewardess jumped when she heard it as she passed.

However, breakfast was a whole new experience. A cardboard carton containing a fruit yogurt, dried up empty croissant, plus salt and pepper, and orange juice. When this was put in front of me, I sat there like a stunned mullet. For premium economy, I expected at least the same as what I am used to in economy on international flights. I did this on FF points, so I don't know the cost, but the meals were certainly a disappointment.

 

[NM]

I flew BA premium economy Bangkok to Sydney last week. I was happy with the seats - good leg room, and reasonable tilt. Comfortable enough, though still a long way from business class. The evening meal was just good enough for economy class. The entertainment system was adaquate, except for the deafening hiss when a show ended - even the stewardess jumped when she heard it as she passed.

However, breakfast was a whole new experience. A cardboard carton containing a fruit yogurt, dried up empty croissant, plus salt and pepper, and orange juice. When this was put in front of me, I sat there like a stunned mullet. For premium economy, I expected at least the same as what I am used to in economy on international flights. I did this on FF points, so I don't know the cost, but the meals were certainly a disappointment.

For BA World Traveler Plus, the food/beverage offering is the same as World Traveler. This is different for QF where their PE menu/beverages are quite different to Economy.

 

[rhjames]

NM - thanks for the information. Actually, I'm not too concerned about airline food - as long as it's reasonable. I put more importance on seat comfort and entertainment. I was just surprised to get a breakfast that was well below what I'm used to, even in economy.

 

[elbarto]

I flew BA premium economy Bangkok to Sydney last week. I was happy with the seats - good leg room, and reasonable tilt. Comfortable enough, though still a long way from business class. The evening meal was just good enough for economy class. The entertainment system was adaquate, except for the deafening hiss when a show ended - even the stewardess jumped when she heard it as she passed.

However, breakfast was a whole new experience. A cardboard carton containing a fruit yogurt, dried up empty croissant, plus salt and pepper, and orange juice. When this was put in front of me, I sat there like a stunned mullet. For premium economy, I expected at least the same as what I am used to in economy on international flights. I did this on FF points, so I don't know the cost, but the meals were certainly a disappointment.

The hot breakfast got ditched during one of willie walshes cost cutting rampages. BAs offerings in non premium cabins are pretty pathetic. I took a flight to CPH earlier in the year at about 6pm, which is arguably a dinner flight, and got nothing but a drink and a pack of nuts. My friend whom is BA staff was even disappointed by this and she's known about the cost cuttings for a while, but not surprised by it.


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