Premium Economy. Why?

[MEL_Traveller]

We flew DFW-SYD last month and selected the PE seats (paid for Y).
Unfortunately we didn't get noise cancelling headphones but did get the PE blanket and pillow. Wish it was the other way around

maybe it took them a few weeks to get through to the carefree that the premium economy cabin was actually economy so not to load 42 sets of noise cancelling headphones anymore!

 

[Robmn]

We flew DFW-SYD last month and selected the PE seats (paid for Y).
Unfortunately we didn't get noise cancelling headphones but did get the PE blanket and pillow. Wish it was the other way around

If you do fly frequently buy your own headset, one that suits you.

Found the sets on VA are not suitable for those who wear glasses, these press against the frame.

They are available from $27 on special TDK but those are not as efficient as JBL.

I have JBL which fit on the ear, not over the ear.

r

 

[PineappleSkip]

Not sure I would like this at all - too much complexity and agonising ...

Complexity and agonising about choices? I thought that was what AFF was all about!

On the subject of Why PE, I would respond, whY not. As pointed out early in this thread there is a steadily increasing gulf between Y and J. And Y+ neatly fills the difference. It reminds me of the J of 20 years ago. Or the F of 40 years ago but if I said that it would betray my age. More leg room, much better seat width, enough seat recline to have a better chance of a reasonable night's sleep (although hardly adequate), together with better F&B, proper champers and IFE screens on QF.

My heretic comment, Mrs P and I travelled J BNE-LAX a few months ago. Or first international J, other than PX which doesn't really count. We decided it was lovely, but not really worth twice as much as Y+. OTOH, we are agreed that Y+ is worth the similar premium over Y, for our inflight sanity's sake. We have done BA Y+ when it was about $1000 less RT from Oz to UK, but wouldn't pay the same price as QF.

We've only done the Y+ thing on the Kangaroo route, on BA or QF, and, having done it once, don't think I could face another overnighter in Y again. If I didn't have the readies for Y+ on a long haul flight, I think I'd rather not travel at all.

Cheers skip

 

[Katie]

Why Fly PE?

When I have booked PE Qantas I have never actually flown in PE - always upgraded to Business.

A PE PAX generally has a higher priority than those in Economy.

Nice. 3 of my last 4 Aus-LAX flights I haven't managed to score the points UG to J. 1 of 4 I scored it, and although technically OWE, my status hadn't yet been upgraded from my flight the day before (SIN-BNE).
Oh well, always expect to fly in the class you book, right?
Actually, that means my OWE/WP Points UG stats are nil for three requests (all Y+ to J). Dammit.

 

[Katie]

In 2008 my wife and I flew Business Class to Europe with Etihad to attend the Anzac Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux at approximate cost of $6500 each.

O/T We were at that service! Along with Little Miss 18mths. We flew QF Y, though.

 

[PineappleSkip]

my OWE/WP Points UG stats are nil for three requests (all Y+ to J). Dammit.

That's about my strike rate for Y+ to J Mrs Pineapple struck lucky on a flight JFK-SYD (but dipped out on the SYD-POM sector). An UG came through for a flight SYD-SIN when I asked for Y to Y+, rather than Y to J, perhaps another reason why Y+

Cheers skip

PS just noticed for last 4 posts, from 2 posters, show the stat counter at 397. Thats rather cute

 

[Robmn]

When everone talks about the Premium Economy as Y+ etc, should PE be refered to as T class???

r

 

[serfty]

With Qantas, it could be referred to as W - as J refers to Business, Y to economy and F to First - all full fare designators.

 

[wilco]

With Qantas, it could be referred to as W - as J refers to Business, Y to economy and F to First - all full fare designators.

Qantas use W, R and T for their PE class and Z for PE ASA's. W designates full fare and therefore should be used inline with F, J and Y.

 

[Favfern]

O/T We were at that service! Along with Little Miss 18mths. We flew QF Y, though.

Hi Katie. It was so damn cold that morning at Villers Bretonneux that it really made you appreciate what our Diggers went through in the French winters of 1915 to 1918! I have a photograph of my wife in her slouch hat and so wrapped up in sweaters, coats and scarves that only her glasses and nose are showing. The breakfast at Villers Bretonneux primary school later in the morning (with all the local kids) was a joyous experience. We are taught so much about Gallipoli, but so little about the Somme. A visit to the war cemeteries on the Western Front should be compulsory for every Australian tourist. When I hear some sporting star being described as a "hero", I cringe! When you stand on the site of the old windmill at Pozieres and look out across the fields where 23,000 young Australians spilled their blood in 1915, and consider that over 40 young Diggers won Victoria Crosses on the Western Front, you have a better realization of what constitutes a "hero". It is a shame your little one was probably too young to appreciate the significance of the event she was attending.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I fly PE because of the extra space - not having to intrude into someone else's personal space, or have them intrude into mine. QF PE isnt that great for overnight flights, and once the seat in front is reclined then it can be hard to get out (as a WP I can usually get a bulkhead though).

The catering does seem to have been downgraded over the past two years: the main meals are sometimes shared with Y, though larger portions. Wine is still J, though the variety seems to have declined - I did three PE trips in Oct and the red was the same on all 6 legs. Now, I don't think I'd pay W fares: especially if D/I is available - I'll just pay the extra for business class.

Comparing W to cheap economy fares probably isn't a fair comparison IMHO: you'd need to compare expensive Economy tickets to expensive PE tickets. The fact that PE Flex tickets sell out so quickly might be due to the popularity of the product - especially on the A380 between SYD-SIN - it usually appears to be completely full.

 

[blackcat20]

I almost flew PE last time I went to the states, but decided the $1000 saved was better for shopping. Wish I had bought the ticket; that was a good 30 hours of torture. For me (in the future), the extra cost would be worth it just to be able to put my feet flat on the floor, rather than having to tuck them under my seat, or the seat in front, in order to not have my knees deep in the seat in front.

I was lucky to get an exit row one way, but that (availability) cant be guaranteed on booking, so in future Id be looking at PE more just for my sanity. The food/booze is just a bonus.

 

[Allan R]

I'm getting confused with all the airline lingo folks!! J, Y, Z, Y+, UG, WP. Then I get text messages with LOL, RU, CUZ.
WTF? Maybe I'm getting old.

 

[Sonny1933]

Whilst BA PE may be cheaper than Qantas it really remain Economy with not much service - so if there is a code share flight buy the BA PE ticket and have the benefits of real PE service from Qantas - my partner who is a BA Executive Class thing always buys BA PE and ensures he is on a Q flight - where the service is good old fashioned business unless, as we did recently, score hideously straight male cabin staff - and they were hideous - so much so, that being a member of the Chairman's Lounge I reported them - and also congratulated Q on the staff from UK to Singapore - the straights were on the short haul flight to Sydney - Q responded that they were delighted to hear about the wonderful staff from London and made virtually no comment about the other staff who not only upset us but most of the other PE passengers - lack of service - lights out early and great unhappiness if they then were disturbed, etc etc. ! I still shall fly Q unless a really good fare appears elsewhere for Business !

 

[Katie]

I'm getting confused with all the airline lingo folks!! J, Y, Z, Y+, UG, WP. Then I get text messages with LOL, RU, CUZ.
WTF? Maybe I'm getting old.

F = First
J = Business
Y+ = Premium Economy/Economy Plus
Y = (Full fare) Economy
UG = Upgrade
WP = (Wa**er) Platinum (Frequenty Flyer status level)

F, J, Y are used in the airline industry for fare levels for these classes, although some airlines have some differences in what letters they use for which fare levels. There is a post somewhere with all of these terms explained ... though you might need to search the internet for the text short forms.

 

[Robmn]

F = First
J = Business
Y+ = Premium Economy/Economy Plus
Y = (Full fare) Economy
UG = Upgrade
WP = (Wa**er) Platinum (Frequenty Flyer status level)

F, J, Y are used in the airline industry for fare levels for these classes, although some airlines have some differences in what letters they use for which fare levels. There is a post somewhere with all of these terms explained ... though you might need to search the internet for the text short forms.

or you can use this Link

r

 

[PineappleSkip]

There is an utter list of abbreviations here ... Some used more commonly than others

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....viations-and-explanations-5056.html#post69096

Cheers skip

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I think the primary reason for Y+ coming into being was the increasing gap between Y and J. Some people want something better than Y, but can't afford what J has become, with beds and all. It is just filling a gap in the market,

On a Boeing presentation l saw recently, this was exactly the reason.

F and J used to be a big difference. That has now slimmed considerably. There is a big gap between J and Y, and PE is meant to fill that gap.

 

[JohnK]

Personally I do not think Qantas premium economy is worth it.

Extra leg room? Maybe but that is not worth 3x the price of economy. Not everyone can secure a bulkhead and if you happen to get stuck behind someone who reclines it is very difficult to get out of the aisle seat. Almost impossible to get out of the window seat unless you are a contortionist.

BA premium economy was worth it (yes I know some people do not like that product) before QF came along and increased premium economy aifares.

 

[Awesom Andy]

BA premium economy was worth it

It's still worth it, if you can get the ODU at the airport from discount Y. Something like an extra $250 for a 12-hour flight is pretty good value IMO.