SQ to offer PE from next year

[eastwest101]

All valid points except if you work at an organization that has a policy of no J or F class travel. Yes I know that these rules may sound silly but they are often rigorously and energetically enforced by accountants/managers and corporate travel agents.

 

[smit0847]

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.

How does it work with work policies on this? If the policy is they pay for Y+ and the cheapest Y+ price is, say $4k yet you can buy points for $3k to go J, what would they say? Would they give you $3k to make your own way there instead of paying $4k for Y+?

 

[boomy]

All valid points except if you work at an organization that has a policy of no J or F class travel. Yes I know that these rules may sound silly but they are often rigorously and energetically enforced by accountants/managers and corporate travel agents.

I wouldn't like to work for such a narrow-minded organisation. The only important factor when booking a flight ticket on the business account should be the price. What's the logic of not allowing J or F class travel if you can get it at the same price or lower then PE?! It's stupidity in action.

 

[Jay Cee]

If SQ is going to do this to their 777 fleet, I will postpone my trip from Oct-Nov 2014 to Oct 2015. Any ideas if the plane/s will be updated by then ? Am currently looking at 773 from SYD > SIN, 772 from SIN > HKG. That could change to a 77W if I change my mind and take a less desirable take off & landing time.

cheers

 

[albatross710]

SQ Premium Economy is coming 2015

Saw this article in the local press here today:

Yesterday, SIA also announced that it would launch a premium economy class in the middle of next year. It will be introduced on the Boeing 777-300ERs, and then on the Airbus A380s.

According to SIA executive vice-president commercial Mak Swee Wah, this new class is meant for the medium-to-long-haul flights. It will be aimed at a mix of leisure and corporate travellers who want a bit more comfort than in economy class

SIA plans new cabin class, sticks by Tiger, sia sia News & Headlines - THE BUSINESS TIMES

 

[MarcB]

Re: SQ Premium Economy is coming 2015

Intrigued to know how this will affect QF's recent decision to discontinue PE on the AUS SIN routes...

 

[mitwg]

Re: SQ Premium Economy is coming 2015

If it was any other carrier, I was going to say we're going to see for sure 10-abreast seating arrangements on Y as a part of this enhancement on the 77W. However what faith I have left in SQ tells me to believe otherwise.

I just can't see how they'll get the extra space on the 77W though without going 10-abreast. The J seats already extend as much as half way through the fuselage and unless they reduce F/J seating, the new PE will essentially force SQ to reduce Y seating to 20 or less rows.

Anyway, this change officially makes SQ a 5 carrier class: Y, PE, J, F and 'the class beyond first'

 

[mannej]

Another thing I have picked up, why aren't SQ putting PE into their 330's?

That may have been conveniently missed by some.

 

[wandering_fred]

An analysis of SIA's 4th quarter plus specific comments on the plans to add PE.

Singapore Airlines incurs 4QFY2014 operating loss, adds premium economy as latest strategic response | CAPA - Centre for Aviation

[extract from CAPA article]
SIA has studied premium economy for several years but repeatedly decided against a fourth class of service on long-haul flights. The group now recognises premium economy has become more mainstream and that it is necessary to be competitive, particularly in the corporate sector.
[end]

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Caversham04]

Another thing I have picked up, why aren't SQ putting PE into their 330's?

I don't know, but I'd certainly be very pleased if they did; I often fly ADL-SIN-LHR and the ADL-SIN-ADL flights are on the 330. Still, the option for PE SIN-LHR is a nice-to-have; I hope that their online booking engine will allow easy mixed-class multi-leg bookings.....

 

[Sprucegoose]

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

You have lost me here, apologies I must be slow.

 

[JohnK]

not sure what routes you are looking at but CX is usually more costly than QF in PE when I look at HKG-SYD for example - QF struggle to sell seats in PE and Y and typically have to sell them at a 20% discount to CX's fares

Apart from super duper once in a blue moon sales I find that CX doesn't even come to close to QF in economy pricing.

Another thing I have picked up, why aren't SQ putting PE into their 330's?

That may have been conveniently missed by some.

To replace business seats or economy seats? I think you will end up losing too many economy seats if they go down that path.

 

[mannej]

To replace business seats or economy seats? I think you will end up losing too many economy seats if they go down that path.

Yet QF are blasted on here for not planning to install PE on their 330's? I am confused...

 

[dajop]

It seems this about long-haul (categorising Australia - SE Asia as only medium haul) which is not inconsistent with QF strategy for PE, despite the naysayers. If as suggested, PE is fitted onto 77W's and 380's, that would see only 4 out the current 16 daily services into Australia with premium economy (eventually) - 2 each to MEL & SYD. So no need to get too excited! Although who knows yet what they will be doing with the A350's.

 

[mitwg]

It seems this about long-haul (categorising Australia - SE Asia as only medium haul) which is not inconsistent with QF strategy for PE, despite the naysayers. If as suggested, PE is fitted onto 77W's and 380's, that would see only 4 out the current 16 daily services into Australia with premium economy (eventually) - 2 each to MEL & SYD. So no need to get too excited! Although who knows yet what they will be doing with the A350's.

+1 I sort of fall into this as most my trips on SQ are intra Asia.

On the other hand, the people connecting on SQ from Australia to other long-haul destinations (well mostly Europe now I guess, after they ditched SQ21/22 + Americas for the Perth ppl) would perhaps find this a decent alternative.

I personally think PE is a stupid product but I'm sure SQ would've done lots of analysis to come to making this decision so hopefully it works out for them well.

 

[JohnK]

Yet QF are blasted on here for not planning to install PE on their 330's? I am confused...

I guess QF is the most popular airline on AFF and when people are critical about them we see more posts.

Personally I am not sure how you can justify a premium economy cabin on an A330. Move the business galley between business and premium economy? And then you will end up with a very small forward cabin in economy cabin and a much larger economy cabin down the back.

All that is fine if they were able to consistently sell premium economy seats but I think that will create a regular situation where economy would be oversold and people get op-ups to premium economy. That happens quite regularly on the 747s so can't see how it is going to work differently on the A330s.

 

[serfty]

Yea, keep PE away from QF - that way those status PAX getting op-ups go to J, like I have had on 3 out of 4 with EK metal on QF flight numbers ...

(If on Qantas with PE such are generally not to business)

 

[TomVexille]

I personally think PE is a stupid product but I'm sure SQ would've done lots of analysis to come to making this decision so hopefully it works out for them well.

I'm curious as to why you think PE is a stupid product? Especially as there seems to be a segment of the traveling public whose budget doesn't stretch to J, but they want/need a little extra space.

 

[Denali]

I'm curious as to why you think PE is a stupid product? Especially as there seems to be a segment of the traveling public whose budget doesn't stretch to J, but they want/need a little extra space.

My budget stretches to J but I just think that what it offers is overkill for some. Im a low maintance flyer, hubby and I sit down, shut up, rarely ask for anything (we dont drink booze/tea/coffee) and I just want extra leg room/seat width and not share my row with a stranger. Im very interested in the PE product and Im excited to try it.

 

[mitwg]

I'm curious as to why you think PE is a stupid product? Especially as there seems to be a segment of the traveling public whose budget doesn't stretch to J, but they want/need a little extra space.

Oh this comment was just on a personal level and not for the 'overall' PE product. The whole concept of PE obviously is that it's a class that sits between J/Y but that is the deal breaker for my requirements.

On business travel, I'm sure my employer would want me to fly J so I arrive at my destination perfectly rested to do whatever I need to do, whereas for personal travel for the short/medium haul, I would fly Y.

So on a personal level, the prospect of getting more legroom + slightly better service just isn't as attractive to me to justify a 2x price for a PE seat, especially when I have status and can score exit rows in Y for free. When PE seats go on sale though, it's a different story altogether as the product suddenly becomes much more attractive.

That's just my 2 cents on why I dislike the PE product but I think it might make sense for heaps of others with different travel preferences.