In The SMH Today Re Economy

[agent009]

Some may have seen this article re airlines not giving customers what they want, about 45 comments posted. I found it interesting hope you do as well.

The big squeeze in economy

 

[drron]

Yes people want extra but pay less for it.
Funny that the Article mentions the AA Main cabin extra.AA did go to offering more leg room in Y.What happened-people wouldn't pay a little more so it disappeared.As to the new extra legroom seats-will be snaffled by AA then OW elites.

 

[VHOEJ]

Yes people want extra but pay less for it.

Bingo. It is amazing how often people complain about economy class but they never look at how cheap the ticket is. There is a cost to that...........that is why the low cost model is booming

 

[Deleted member]

On another thread I asked the same question (as mentioned in the SMH ) comments. Why are there so many seats l when it seems simple enough to reduce the number and increase the price proportionally? I obviously don't get it.
In any event my position now is that aside from domestic short haul. If I can't afford biz , I ain't going. I am not especially tall but at 55 and carrying extra pounds I enjoy a degree of comfort I was able to go without in my younger days.
The down side for the airlines here is that I ( and I suspect there are many others like me) fly less often than I otherwise would.
Maybe red roo has some helpful information that will demystify all this for me ?

 

[Berlin]

In any event my position now is that aside from domestic short haul. If I can't afford biz , I ain't going. I am not especially tall but at 55 and carrying extra pounds I enjoy a degree of comfort I was able to go without in my younger days.

No need to be in your 50s for this rule- I apply the same and am only in my mid 30s :shock:

 

[ozmille]

No need to be in your 50s for this rule- I apply the same and am only in my mid 30s :shock:

or late 20's

 

[agent009]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

I think I read on this site that somebody ssaid PE today is what economy was in the 70's, true ?

 

[mannej]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

I think I read on this site that somebody ssaid PE today is what economy was in the 70's, true ?

There is a handbook from around the mid 80's doing the rounds. Y was 34inches, J was 38 inches and F 50-60 inches from memory.

So with that PE is what J used to be

 

[agent009]

There is a handbook from around the mid 80's doing the rounds. Y was 34inches, J was 38 inches and F 50-60 inches from memory.

So with that PE is what J used to be

So I guess shave a few inches from each row & you fit an extra row or three.

 

[Deleted member]

No need to be in your 50s for this rule- I apply the same and am only in my mid 30s :shock:

No age limit. I have felt this way for a while. Only now putting my foot down

 

[Deleted member]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

I think I read on this site that somebody ssaid PE today is what economy was in the 70's, true ?

A combination of all 3. priority for me is we fly QF. Mainly because we live here and have chosen them for collection MR and FF points. I don't like small planes. I don't care if the flight is cheap I really want to be comfortable. Having said that I have agreed to attend a conference I Hawaii and will be (choke) flying whY with Hawaiian ( we know the pacific best we've been in it the most.....LOL) )

But I may jack up and come home biz.

 

[JohnK]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

For me that would be different depending on the travel I wanted to do.

e.g
- I would not want to travel 6 hours in a 737 or an A320. Regardless of price
- Avoid most of the low cost carriers no matter how cheap they are unless you are not bothered by delays and can put up with losing time off your holidays

By the way I am quite happy travelling economy most of the time as it seems to be a nice balance between price and comfort. Airfares for my next trip to Thailand cost ~AUD820 in QF economy and I will be there for ~12 days/nights and with accommodation, 7 games of golf and general expenses the whole trip should cost me ~AUD2,500. Personally I think that is a bargain considering that a weekend in Cairns costs me ~AUD800-AUD1,000.

 

[Moopere]

There is a handbook from around the mid 80's doing the rounds. Y was 34inches, J was 38 inches and F 50-60 inches from memory.

So with that PE is what J used to be

This is worth remembering I think. Considering how inflation and other factors devalues money, I reckon flights across the board are cheap. PE is what J used to be, J is the old F, the current F on most decent airlines is a new class of super uberness. Y, as we know it today is not the Y of old, its far cheaper (figuring devaluation/inflation) and quite a bit nastier too.

If one paid say 1500$ for a cheap Y international in the early 90's, then deflation alone should figure todays price for the same seat/conditions at about $4-6000. Which is about right today for high end PE or middle/low J. Providing your wage has kept up with inflation it will be equally difficult to afford J at 6K$ as it was for you in 1990 to afford Y at $1500.

Of course we all want to maximise value, I certainly spend more time than I should chasing points and schemes and cheap fares, but ultimately, flying today is, in my opinion, as cheap as its ever been for a decent experience and we've now got the choice of going ultra cheap with the new-reality Y at 29-31 inches seat pitch and no food

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

I think I read on this site that somebody ssaid PE today is what economy was in the 70's, true ?

Not quite but you are on the right track.

Look at what a trip to LHR would have cost on average weekly earnings 40 years ago versus what it does now. The golden age of travel is well and truly over.

 

[Craigie]

Just out of curiosity, do most people choose Price, Airline or Aircraft first ?

A few years ago it was price that determined who I'd fly with, then it moved on to airline due to FF points but due to some comments that jb747 has made recently, safety is going to be something in my mind that I'll happily pay more for, and something that I'll keep up to date with as regards airline incidents.

 

[agent009]

I found your replies interesting. I have been talking to friends and workmates who have travelled much more than me. Most said they chose the ailine with aircraft first. Price was important but not the 1st consideration.

Nearly all 15 or so I spoke to fly other than Qantas. The popular ones being Japan Virgin Atlantic & Emirates. Obviously this isnt scientific, just a small snapshot that I found interesting. A lot also said the Ariline=what they thought of safety and service/standard, thats why they chose this or that airliner.

Hope this isnt out of order (mods delete if it is) but a few said they preferred British or Aussie pilots because they felt they had better skiils and experience.