Qantas offers PE on BNE-LAX,AKL-LAX July to Oct.

[Nigelinoz]

This isn't exactly earth shattering but I offer it for what it's worth.

International Premium Economy Cabin for BNE/LAX and AKL/LAX22 May 2009
For travel from 06 July to 24 October 2009


Qantas is pleased to announce the availability of international Premium Economy on its Brisbane to Los Angeles and Auckland to Los Angeles services from 06 July to 24 October 2009.

Qantas Premium Economy appeals to a wide range of travellers who want a step up from Economy in terms of space and enhanced products and services.

Qantas Premium Economy provides a travel experience for our customers across the Pacific which includes priority check-in, dedicated cabin crew, an additional hand baggage allowance, and priority boarding and disembarkati

 

[NM]

And note that its quite possible that for a while the PE passengers may be sitting in Skybeds while the PE seating is added to the current 2-class aircraft.

 

[Evan]

When does OEJ get its PE ?

It has been reported OJF & OJK are for sale, and i guess a couple more, maybe OJG and OJH ? I wonder how many of this current 2 class birds will get PE, but it seems investing in interior recently has no impact on the decision to scrap or sell and aircraft.

 

[Nigelinoz]

What I find slightly interesting is that it's only between July and October so I was wondering whether that suggests that they are moving current
PE equipped aircraft from other routes for the duration?
But that would mean cutting capacity on the routes affected wouldn't it?

 

[openseat]

I was just looking in January '10 for PE availability between LAX and AKL, but nothing is showing up at this stage.

 

[docjames]

I agree with Nigel, it's weird timing, unless it's really trying to coax US-AUS travellers in the (US) summer season, but wondering what a/c they'd then go to if they refit with Y+ seats (rather than Y+ in J seats?):?:

 

[Mal]

At the same time, Qantas is dropping F service MEL-HKG-LHR, SYD-SFO and SYD-EZE

So they may well find some extra planes somewhere...

 

[Nigelinoz]

MAL makes a good point but even so they still need a/c configured with Y,Premium Y and J for those routes unless they are planning capacity cuts on say MEL-LHR via HKG etc,how many more A380's are they getting this year,would they be enough to cover it? assuming they were moving the PE configured 74's to the US route.

 

[tgh]

There is an interesting anomaly with the qf website.
Searching for award seats .. say bne>eze.. one is offered economy availability as default.
Selecting all classes results in only business and economy availability.
The same search ex sydney and bingo... heaps of y+ and a bit of f availability.
Now this won't trap everyone.. even I managed to sus it out .. but it isn't a good look when a lot of folks who don't live in Sydney might be sweating on y+ availability.

 

[NM]

I don't expect we will see wholseale swaps of equipment between routes (some losing F and others gaining PE). I think QF will continue to operate much to the same aircraft rotations as before.

They are just finding that in the current conditions they are not selling many F seats and selling fewer J seats than before. They feel they there is some demand for lower-value premium fares, so offering Premium Economy on what have previously been 2-class routes will help to maximise revenues. So having people pay PE fares and sitting in what would otherwise be unsold Skybeds (i.,e. rows 23 and 24 on the current 2-class aircraft) is better than having those passengers either just paying economy fares or travelling with V-Australia.

The same goes to "removal" of F in some routes. I expect the same aircraft with the same F cabin will be operating. But if the only have to cater for J meals and amenities and staffing levels, they can operate more efficiently than having a cabin full of op-ups.

So I see this as a marketing move and not an aircraft reconfiguration move.

Longer term, if the demand for F does not return then it may be a different story. The "cabin cycle" is an expected phenomenon. As business class has become more advanced (flat beds, PJs, catering etc), they have created a need for an affordable cabin somewhere between Y and J, and of that is what we now have as Premium Economy. And now that Business Class is offering many of the services that were once the domain of First Class, I expect we will see more dropping of F services. This is what I call the cabin cycle, as the middle class improved to a point where another class is required and the top one rolls off the end of the chain.

I expect we will be back to 3-class aircraft with J, W and Y that look similar to what we once called F, J and Y. They may rename the cabins, but then again its a marketing thing and while businesses are cutting costs and restricting the use of business class travel, it makes sense for the airlines to offer a class called "Premium Economy" where some businesses will permit this class of travel in the travel policies while not permitting business class travel.

As times change, its good to see the airlines adjusting their approach to suit, rather than just sticking their heads in the same and hoping for the best.

 

[aus_flyer]

There is an interesting anomaly with the qf website.
Searching for award seats .. say bne>eze.. one is offered economy availability as default.
Selecting all classes results in only business and economy availability.
The same search ex sydney and bingo... heaps of y+ and a bit of f availability.
Now this won't trap everyone.. even I managed to sus it out .. but it isn't a good look when a lot of folks who don't live in Sydney might be sweating on y+ availability.

It's not an anomaly.
It's the same if you try BNE-HKG out of BNE via SYD, F will not be given as an option.
The reason is because there is no F or Y+ from BNE-SYD. As the cabin is not available for this sector, it doesn't show.
If you want Y+ you need to search as a multi-city.
I don't object to this... imagine if BNE-SYD was available in business, but SYD-HKG was in Y. Would you want the purple seat showing, misleading you into thinking that SYD-HKG was in business?

 

[MarcB]

Although no official Qantas update has been issued, I was just looking at flights from BNE-LAX for November departures and PE is still available on QF15/16. Originally this was scheduled to end 24 October. Dates I checked were 14 & 23 November. E/F shows T and W classes for these flights and maps reveal they are continuing to use the skybeds for this route. If anyone is looking for a cheap 'light J' service flight - here's your chance. I flew in PE on these flights in July and we were only minus the J amenities and sleep suits. At around $4k RTN - a lot better than $14k for J.