SQ to offer PE from next year

[dajop]

For many people premium economy seems to be a fantastic product. In theory I agree, but doesn't it all get down to price? I just looked at several dates SYD-LHR cheapest I could find was $4.6K (OK no sales on at the moment), and on some dates $5.6 and $6.2K. It's not too hard to find business class for around these prices (or a little more), admittedly not on Qantas. If I was going to pay $4.6K I'd be happy enough paying $5.5k to go in business if I could. I'm also still in the camp of 7hr economy +13 hr in flat seat business is better than 20hrs in premium economy, particularly if one can secure and exit row seat on the 7 hr economy sector.

 

[TomVexille]

For many people premium economy seems to be a fantastic product. In theory I agree, but doesn't it all get down to price? I just looked at several dates SYD-LHR cheapest I could find was $4.6K (OK no sales on at the moment), and on some dates $5.6 and $6.2K. It's not too hard to find business class for around these prices (or a little more), admittedly not on Qantas. If I was going to pay $4.6K I'd be happy enough paying $5.5k to go in business if I could. I'm also still in the camp of 7hr economy +13 hr in flat seat business is better than 20hrs in premium economy, particularly if one can secure and exit row seat on the 7 hr economy sector.

Absolutely. However when you can get MEL-LAX for $2100 on VA, (on sale of course) it becomes a good deal.

 

[Dalescott]

I did BNE-HKG-CDG and vv in Cathay PE and I would say that the hard product is almost identical to QF's. The F&B offerings aren't up to QF's standards and the FAs weren't brilliant either.

Why you would be surprised that PE is more economy than business, I do not know. It is called Premium ECONOMY not BUSINESS Lite. Of course if you have flown J recently then it is going to seem worse, but just consider the days when PE didn't exist and the choice was Y or J. For most travellers there was no choice and it was Y every time. Now there is greater choice and it is infinitely more comfortable than standard whY down the back of the bus.

This is the point that I have been making to my TA (PE was our ideal not the TA's) and we tried it. So now we know what PE is like, we will just our thinking to the experience. Others on AFF have written what I now believe, but life is one long experience, and I tried PE. As a product it is good, and I have thought that there may be a place in the market for J lite. Maybe SIA could think along this line, say replacing the PE seats with 150 degree seats, that everybody is pulling out??. it's just a thought, but I imagine they would be worried that it would effect their existing J customers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For many people premium economy seems to be a fantastic product. In theory I agree, but doesn't it all get down to price? I just looked at several dates SYD-LHR cheapest I could find was $4.6K (OK no sales on at the moment), and on some dates $5.6 and $6.2K. It's not too hard to find business class for around these prices (or a little more), admittedly not on Qantas. If I was going to pay $4.6K I'd be happy enough paying $5.5k to go in business if I could. I'm also still in the camp of 7hr economy +13 hr in flat seat business is better than 20hrs in premium economy, particularly if one can secure and exit row seat on the 7 hr economy sector.

Interestingly with the current QF J class special PER-SIN r/t for $999 you could get business class the whole way from PER to Europe for around $2500. With flat beds most of the way. That is a bargain compared to 4.6K for PE.

 

[Himeno]

Every airline seems to see "premium economy" differently. Some see it as simply the same as economy with some extra leg room. Others see it as what business class was like 20 odd years ago.