SQ to offer PE from next year

[eastwest101]

QF made that decision for the reasons of where/how the QF a330 fleet will be utilized and QFs/Australia's geographical position....totally different to where/how SQ and for that matter CX operate their various fleet types from.. apples and oranges.. there are vast differences between Australia (and ALL its limitations) and other countries/nations

Sorry but I respectfully disagree - logic there if its good enough to launch a flat bed J class product in response to your domestic competitor (VA) on transcon, and if your international fleet already has a high yielding and popular Y+ (on A380s and B747s) then it must be logical to consider Y+ seating on A330s as you will be matching your competitors in Asia (i.e. CX and SQ) and improving yields for QF. As a matter of fact - for an airline that is pissing and moaning about its lack of profitability and about to be flooded with cheap LCC economy class capacity in the region - it would be downright stupid not to consider it.

Especially if you are pulling A330s out of revenue service to stick the new J class seating in anyway! Unless you think its more logical to refit the J seating to lay flat and then pull the A330s out of service again to put in Y+ seating?

 

[TomVexille]

Good news. Will definitely keep an eye on this.

 

[Dalescott]

I priced QF, CX, VA, BA, JAL, and wasn't interested in CS. QF was easierly the dearest at over $5K, CX at $3.5K, VA only via Sydney (YUCK NONONO), BA also via Sydney, JAL also via Sydney (As Markis so indicated). So it was CX, at $3.5K, because QF at $5K, I was getting RB at $5.5K in J (who we have flown with for the last 2 years)
I think QF are pricing themselves out of the PE market, but it might be different for Sydney.

 

[smit0847]

I priced QF, CX, VA, BA, JAL, and wasn't interested in CS. QF was easierly the dearest at over $5K, CX at $3.5K, VA only via Sydney (YUCK NONONO), BA also via Sydney, JAL also via Sydney (As Markis so indicated). So it was CX, at $3.5K, because QF at $5K, I was getting RB at $5.5K in J (who we have flown with for the last 2 years)
I think QF are pricing themselves out of the PE market, but it might be different for Sydney.

I've always been understood that QF Y+ is about the same price as some second tier carriers (MH, TG, RB, CA, GA etc) J prices? Y+ makes no sense to me when you can just buy miles and fly J for less than the Y+ rev price but then again, people pay thousands of dollars for a few status credits.

 

[zainman]

Wonder if EK will do a "me too" and also launch PE... Maybe use it on some of their A380's that they will send to India without F

 

[eastwest101]

I've always been understood that QF Y+ is about the same price as some second tier carriers (MH, TG, RB, CA, GA etc) J prices? Y+ makes no sense to me when you can just buy miles and fly J for less than the Y+ rev price but then again, people pay thousands of dollars for a few status credits.

Ask your manager at work to fly overseas in business class, and then ask for premium economy and see which one is more likely to be approved.

Or for self funded travellers if you can't stretch the budget to business class, but you don't like to sit for more than 5-6hrs in economy class seating - who you gunna call? Premium economy - thats who.

CX get it, NZ get it, VAi get it, SQ now get it, QF have a bit of it but don't seem to totally get it yet.

 

[mannej]

CX get it, NZ get it, VAi get it, SQ now get it, QF have a bit of it but don't seem to totally get it yet.

Only on flights of compareable lengths to what QF already have their PE product on (LAX, AUH)
Otherwise it is 737 only, so you can't really add them to the list.

 

[eastwest101]

Yes for the longer international AUH/LAX B777 VAi services yes you can choose Y+ but not on the VAd B737s, agreed. But you can't fly Y+ on QF either, on the shorter international routes where VAi fly their B737s eg Bali, Fiji (does VA still have Y+ instead of J on its B738s to NZ?)

 

[mannej]

Hence the use of VAi and not VAd

You can't use VA on the list though. Apart from AUH and LAX they don't offer PE on there other international routes. Not any different to QF really and you are bagging them.

 

[markis10]

You can't use VA on the list though. Apart from AUH and LAX they don't offer PE on there other international routes. Not any different to QF really and you are bagging them.

Are you not overlooking the PE on offer to the islands and across the ditch?

 

[mannej]

Yes for the longer international AUH/LAX B777 VAi services yes you can choose Y+ but not on the VAd B737s, agreed. But you can't fly Y+ on QF either, on the shorter international routes where VAi fly their B737s eg Bali, Fiji (does VA still have Y+ instead of J on its B738s to NZ?)

PER-HKT is a good 6 hours is it not? That is a VA operated international service. There are always the rumours that the 330's may also be used internationally. They are currently only Y and J as well.

Are you not overlooking the PE on offer to the islands and across the ditch?

What? In place of J. I don't think so.

 

[TomVexille]

What? In place of J. I don't think so.

Flights to NZ are sold as PE, only J you can book with VA is on an NZ operated widebody

 

[Clivem]

What? In place of J. I don't think so.

Don't VA only operate PE and Y to the islands and NZ on their 737's ......nearly always NZ registered aircraft - Virgin Aust labels on the side

 

[mannej]

Flights to NZ are sold as PE, only J you can book with VA is on an NZ operated widebody

VA only operate PE and Y to the islands and NZ on their 737's ......nearly always NZ registered aircraft - Virgin Aust labels on the side

I am fully aware of that. Hence my comment.

Compared to the PE offerings being discussed, it is really apples and oranges isn't it.

 

[TomVexille]

I am fully aware of that. Hence my comment.

Compared to the PE offerings being discussed, it is really apples and oranges isn't it.

I'd agree with that

 

[eastwest101]

PER-HKT is a good 6 hours is it not? That is a VA operated international service. There are always the rumours that the 330's may also be used internationally. They are currently only Y and J as well.



What? In place of J. I don't think so.

You seem to have me mistaken with some sort of VA fanboi, I am just as likely to give VA a bollicking as QF if you care to look.

I guess the response is that as far as PER-HKT services go - you have a choice of the VA B738 with J and Y class or other options via 1 stops, and I agree that 6hrs in a VA B738 is a long time.... PER-HKT 3800 seats per month and VA having no direct competitor

But I was talking more about services between Australia and Asia, where QFi will mainly be using their international A330s (i.e. the ones that aren't on domestic duties and I don't see QF launching a PER-HKT A330 service anytime soon anyway), in that case they are already up against CX with a better J class and Y+ option and now possibly against SQ with a better J class and Y+ option. I am not expecting QF to offer Y+ for domestic PER-East Coast, my point was that as far as the majority of where the QFi A330s are going - they are a poor hard J product and are not currently planned to have Y+ fitted......Eg: SYD-SIN 85000 seats per month with competition

 

[mannej]

You seem to have me mistaken with some sort of VA fanboi, I am just as likely to give VA a bollicking as QF if you care to look.

I guess the response is that as far as PER-HKT services go - you have a choice of the VA B738 with J and Y class or other options via 1 stops, and I agree that 6hrs in a VA B738 is a long time....

But I was talking more about services between Australia and Asia, where QFi will mainly be using their international A330s (i.e. the ones that aren't on domestic duties), in that case they are already up against CX with a better J class and Y+ option and now possibly against SQ with a better J class and Y+ option. I am not expecting QF to offer Y+ for domestic PER-East Coast my point was that as far as the majority of where the QFi A330s are going - they are a poor hard J product and are not currently planned to have Y+ fitted.

I have not mistaken you for anyone or anything. As you have said, you were talking about the routes into Asia. VA don't operate any as such so VA don't really apply to that list.

I don't disagree with the QF 330's needing a re-fresh (domestic ones included in that [not so much Y, but the J cabin in particular])

 

[eastwest101]

I don't disagree with the QF 330's needing a re-fresh (domestic ones included in that [not so much Y, but the J cabin in particular])

No worries - we can have different opinions, and I also agree with you that the QF A330s need a refresh, they have to do it anyway so why not think about putting Y+ in them? Does not necessarily have to be lots of them..... I am sure I am not the only person here who has mentioned it. Just asking.

 

[TomVexille]

No worries - we can have different opinions, and I also agree with you that the QF A330s need a refresh, they have to do it anyway so why not think about putting Y+ in them? Does not necessarily have to be lots of them..... I am sure I am not the only person here who has mentioned it. Just asking.

I am sure you're not the only one. IIRC CX only have around 28 PE seats in an A333. It's a rather small cabin that only takes up a few rows and I'm not entirely sure why QF haven't installed it on the 330 yet.

 

[boomy]

Y+ makes no sense to me when you can just buy miles and fly J for less than the Y+ rev price but then again, people pay thousands of dollars for a few status credits.

Ask your manager at work to fly overseas in business class, and then ask for premium economy and see which one is more likely to be approved.

Or for self funded travellers if you can't stretch the budget to business class, but you don't like to sit for more than 5-6hrs in economy class seating - who you gunna call? Premium economy - thats who.

smit0847 has a good point. A smart purchase of miles will fly you J at the price of PE and sometimes cheaper.
The boss at work cares only about the cost of the ticket. If you manage to get J seat at the price of PE, why would he care?
I used to be one of those who pay for PE seat on QF (they do offer a great product for this class) but after discovering all the options available when buying miles, it's only J or F long haul for myself, my partner and my parents.
So, when you don't want to sit in Y on a long international flight - who you gonna call? USDM