Is Economy Class Shrinking?

Off on a long haul flight soon? Are you flying economy class or are you one of the lucky ones who is flying premium, business or even first class?  The vast majority of us do fly economy simply because the cost is more affordable.  There are now “some changes” in the airline world with the amount of seats available on a aircraft.  Traditionally there are always more seats in economy, then as the cabin moves on, you have so many in premium, business and then first.  A few airlines are now “chopping” economy seats and building more in the more expensive seats.

The big change I can see is with United airlines. They are refitting the 767’s and 767 – 300 aircraft. On the latter it is loosing 47 seats in economy class to make way for a extra 22 premium class seats.  Without going into details on the different aircraft’s, in a nutshell, they are adding an extra 1600 premium seats to nearly 250 international and domestic aircraft.

Delta and American Airlines have also added more premium class cabins in their aircraft’s too.

Air France have recently unveiled some changes in the A330 aircraft which is getting a “revamp.” There will be 36 seats in business, 21 in premium and 167 in economy. Now in fairness, Air France are not actually getting rid of economy seats but they are changing the leg pitch because of other “improvements” – let’s face it the leg room pitch in economy class is a real pain in the neck on a long haul flight.

The move is, and I quote ” part of a push by large U.S. airlines to attract more lucrative premium travellers.” Premium cabin tickets can cost at least twice (and more) of an economy class ticket, and of course the opportunity to be the better airline, especially in the USA, which has mega competition with United, Delta and American airlines.

I have not read of anything happening in the British market yet. It will be interesting to see if the likes of British Airways or Virgin quietly change things.

 Let us face it, money makes the world go round and there are people out there who will pay a lot of money to get the best possible flying experience, and I can’t say I blame them.  For the people like myself who fly in economy, I guess the reserving of seats on a aircraft (leg room, extra leg room) will become more and more important – and that can be (I hate to say it) a huge problem for many of us!

Interesting times ahead!

Till next time x