What would you be willing to pay airlines more for?

[Forg]

Same sentiment as me but this is surprisingly the minority opinion (I forgot where but a lot of people have mentioned how so worth it premium economy is and how everything is upgraded food space priority).

I know how good it feels to be correct, so I know how good you must feel!!

I guess some airlines give you J lounge access, in an airline’s home-port that prolly means showers & that’s got value. Priority boarding means little when you’re sharing carry-on space with many fewer people … maybe sometimes you don’t need to queue with the Y pax for check-in?
But in reality it’s all about your seat-neighbour’s fat-rolls not overflowing quite as much into your lap, and the seat in front not slicing your kneecaps open when the seat occupant reclines.

 

[fly2earth]

I know how good it feels to be correct, so I know how good you must feel!!

No just stating my unpopular opinion that is not to be taken at face value only because it is an unpopular opinion. Only take my facts seriously because I never discredit anyone because one it is coughty thing to do and two it counts as defamation

 

[jase05]

For me, any airline that doesn’t offer dine on demand I’d be happy to pay extra for such service.
I know crew need rest etc but there are times when I don’t want to eat at the allotted time and I don’t want to eat one of their mid flight snacks, I want a proper meal.

 

[trooper]

More pitch is relatively easy... but more WIDTH means less seats per row.. and that IS PE territory... Splitting the Y cabin into sections sounds good... but they'd have to be very careful not to back themselves into a corner where many people bought the "cheap seats" with a reasonable expectation of being given the "Standard" seats for free... (as in the cabin being half and half as suggested above) due to lack of folks paying the upcharge...

NZ's Skycouch IS a good product..Ive used it several times to LAX and back. But its not JUST three normal Economy seats, they have those large sections that swing up to make up the full bed surface. Having said that, an offering of 3 NORMAL E seats (with some decent bedding and , of course, fully fold up armrests) could possibly ALSO be an option? (Doesn't LH do just that?)

 

[Forg]

For me, any airline that doesn’t offer dine on demand I’d be happy to pay extra for such service.
I know crew need rest etc but there are times when I don’t want to eat at the allotted time and I don’t want to eat one of their mid flight snacks, I want a proper meal.

I think a lot of people (for example: me) don’t really understand this. Until I married my wife I didn’t really understand how some people are very much affected by having regular food intake; I get hungry, like really hungry, but I don’t feel ill if I have to wait for a meal, it’s about enjoyment rather than actually needing a feed. But yeah, there are some to whom this makes a big difference; and I suspect the majority of people don‘t get that.

 

[fly2earth]

Nothing. I just want a clean safe no frill airline that will get me from point A to point B that doesn't make me feel like I am travelling in a metal prison (all the major airlines in any airline alliance meets the function, however having new aircrafts and nice clean seats is a plus). No bogans on board is also a big plus.
AND DEFINITELY NOT JETSTAR because they will downgrade your paid economy preferred seat (first window seat in emergency row) and give it to someone influential in their company stick you in a middle seat somewhere in the "slum" of the preferred seats section still charge you (won't let you refund your preferred seat). And find all sorts of excuses why they stole your seat even before check-in commenced and gave it to some influential peoples more preferrable and why you cannot reclaim your seat back regardless even though you paid for the seat (not one of those pathetic lame excuses of you arrived too late close to check in time so we gave your preferable seat away to someone who we like). And no refund either because preferred seats charge are non-refundable as per company policy and more importantly company values. Like what happened to me on a Melb-SIN flight and I had the pleasure of being robbed $25 dollars for a "non-preferred" seat thanks to STAR.
Update: It was one of those new Dreamliner boeing 787's that some normal airlines use hence the cheapsters wanted to use their privilege to snag those seats as their own without paying for a normal airline economy ticket.

 

[fly2earth]

Nothing. I just want a clean safe no frill airline that will get me from point A to point B that doesn't make me feel like I am travelling in a metal prison (all the major airlines in any airline alliance meets the function, however having new aircrafts and nice clean seats is a plus). No bogans on board is also a big plus. AND DEFINITELY NOT JETSTAR because they will downgrade your paid economy preferred seat (first window seat in emergency row) and give it to someone influential in their company stick you in a middle seat somewhere in the "slum" of the preferred seats section still charge you (won't let you refund your preferred seat). And find all sorts of excuses why they stole your seat even before check-in commenced and gave it to someone more preferable and why you cannot reclaim your seat back regardless even though you paid for the seat (not one of those pathetic lame excuses of you arrived too late close to check in time so we gave your preferable seat away to someone who we like). And no refund either because preferred seats charge are non-refundable as per company policy and more importantly company values. Like what happened to me on a Melb-SIN flight and I had the pleasure of being robbed $25 dollars for a "non-preferred" seat thanks to STAR.

And that, kids, is how I met your Mumster

 

[Himeno]

No, this was for Y+. PE is separate.

In Y+, I'd happily take e.g. 34" pitch, reasonable width and more generous recline on an economy seat to start with. PE seat has other bells and whistles I could go without. To think of, JL and NH more or less have this plus the Y meals are a step up from e.g. QF.

It depends what the given airline think "premium economy" is.
Some see it as Y+, others as J-.
Some airlines have put in the sort of J seats they might have had 30 years ago for their premium economy while others have just taken their existing Y seat and added more leg room and maybe some better/extra service.

 

[fly2earth]

It depends what the given airline think "premium economy" is.
Some see it as Y+, others as J-.
Some airlines have put in the sort of J seats they might have had 30 years ago for their premium economy while others have just taken their existing Y seat and added more leg room and maybe some better/extra service.

The only certain thing about premium economy is the "premium" that you are paying for what is still an "economy" seat. Might as well call it premium economy seats since it is un-economical (to the wallet at least)

 

[Forg]

The only certain thing about premium economy is the "premium" that you are paying for what is still an "economy" seat. Might as well call it premium economy seats since it is un-economical (to the wallet at least)

I recall my parents going to the UK when my baby sister was living in London in 2001, paying the extra $200 (~10%) to fly Premium Economy on BA. That was before a bunch of companies told their employees “no J!”, which pumped up the price of Premium Economy to the point where we got a discounted CI Business flight to London in 2018 for way less than the price of Premium on SG or BA or QF …

… however, not having 22hrs of the knees wedged into the metal frame of the seat in front has more value for the over-6-footers than the shorties fully understand.

 

[RooFlyer]

Decent legroom & recline in Y + better meals in Y.

No. You should get this for the fare already paid.

I've given the topic some actual serious thought @Mattg and decided no - I wouldn't pay more for some extra service, because as with everything to do with flying, there is a good chance it won't be delivered. I mean, they screw up the routine stuff like meals, seating, extra legroom $ seating, baggage, boarding ... everything. Why pay more to be disappointed just the same? How on earth could anyone expect them to get a 'one off' or 'special request' right?

 

[fly2earth]

I recall my parents going to the UK when my baby sister was living in London in 2001, paying the extra $200 (~10%) to fly Premium Economy on BA. That was before a bunch of companies told their employees “no J!”, which pumped up the price of Premium Economy to the point where we got a discounted CI Business flight to London in 2018 for way less than the price of Premium on SG or BA or QF …

… however, not having 22hrs of the knees wedged into the metal frame of the seat in front has more value for the over-6-footers than the shorties fully understand.

good way to imply that others are short. I am not

 

[fly2earth]

I recall my parents going to the UK when my baby sister was living in London in 2001, paying the extra $200 (~10%) to fly Premium Economy on BA. That was before a bunch of companies told their employees “no J!”, which pumped up the price of Premium Economy to the point where we got a discounted CI Business flight to London in 2018 for way less than the price of Premium on SG or BA or QF …

… however, not having 22hrs of the knees wedged into the metal frame of the seat in front has more value for the over-6-footers than the shorties fully understand.

Alternatively you can pay 100 dollars more for window seat emergency row. But then you would get kicked off a paid preferred seat like I did (to add to the insult moved to the last row plus middle seat in preferred seat selection) because some high profile passenger decided he is above all others and has more rights than other passengers. And then company still won't let you refund your preferred seat or switch you back to the original seat you paid a premium to select (note this is before airport check-in commenced even). Gave the high profile old couple a stare when entering and exiting (of course didn't do that because that would be too rude). A very Jetstar thing to do. And the winner goes to...STAR!

 

[Forg]

Yeah that high-profile old couple wouldn’t have known who they’d ousted, possibly not even that they’d ousted someone.

The machete is a much more useful tool onboard than the cold stare. You know, the airline-branded onboard machete that is designed to deal with the people from the Feet On The Bulkheads thread …

Jetstar has to shaft customers. It’s expected. And if they don’t do that shafting, they run the risk of being subject to legal action, if customers don’t get shafted in the expected way they’ve paid for! It’s the vibe, Mabo.

 

[fly2earth]

Yeah that high-profile old couple wouldn’t have known who they’d ousted, possibly not even that they’d ousted someone.

The machete is a much more useful tool onboard than the cold stare. You know, the airline-branded onboard machete that is designed to deal with the people from the Feet On The Bulkheads thread …

Jetstar has to shaft customers. It’s expected. And if they don’t do that shafting, they run the risk of being subject to legal action, if customers don’t get shafted in the expected way they’ve paid for! It’s the vibe, Mabo.

Well they did oust me before in person check-in commenced (Melb-SIN flight). And I booked my flight just 2-3 days before the Jetstar flight departed so they literally kicked me off my seat paid preferred seat and put me in the slum area middle seat right in the back last row before the normal economy seats. And won't offer me a refund because I am not paying for preferred seating if my "paid" seats are almost and technically the same as normal "free" economy seats. Kudos to them for beating me to the game.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I’d just like them to deliver the published benefits for which I have already paid.

In the unlikely event they managed that, then I’d consider paying for status credits.

At no more than $2/SC.

Paying for status would be so much easier than having to fly to New Zealand.

 

[henrus]

At no more than $2/SC.

This would never happen otherwise you’d have:

Silver Status for $600
Gold Status for $1400
Platinum Status for $2800

Whilst it sounds great on paper most who earn status don’t get it through an NZ status run so QF are losing out in this regard.

 

[Scarlett]

Yes. I’d pay for extra legroom so that my legs still function correctly when alighting.

And I routinely do.


Other things I’d be willing to pay more for (you didn’t specify they had to be sensible):
- a flight guaranteed to be free of any ‘media personalities’
- a flight guaranteed to be free of any ‘influencers’
- an inflight sauna
- an airline where if anyone had to be subdued by the crew during the flight and police be called; that they were simply turfed out of the aircraft somewhere above FL320
- extra hand luggage inclusive of emotional support peacocks, if I so chose
- an inflight hammock
- decent inflight espresso
- a flight that enforced body odour standards: stinky people either have a shower or get thee to T4 (I don’t envy the employee who would be expected to enforce the standard at the boarding gate!)

 

[encryptededdy]

For example, I'd probably be willing to pay a bit more for a better meal in economy class - a bit like Lufthansa and Austrian used to offer. Those meals were very good and worth the extra price IMHO.

JAL is now offering this FYI. https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/service/optional/paidmeal/ Available on ex-Tokyo flights to Australia. Looks like the same meal as the express meal service option in Business Class. Looks to cost 3000 JPY or 30 USD (very different!!).

I think in general Premium Economy has what I'm willing to pay extra for on 6~10hr flights, however I just wish the pricing was more reasonable. I'm willing to pay up to double the price of Economy for PE, but in practice it often costs a lot more than that. Surely there's no way airlines would lose money selling a PE seat for double the cost of Y...

 

[fly2earth]

JAL is now offering this FYI. https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/service/optional/paidmeal/ Available on ex-Tokyo flights to Australia. Looks like the same meal as the express meal service option in Business Class. Looks to cost 3000 JPY or 30 USD (very different!!).

I think in general Premium Economy has what I'm willing to pay extra for on 6~10hr flights, however I just wish the pricing was more reasonable. I'm willing to pay up to double the price of Economy for PE, but in practice it often costs a lot more than that. Surely there's no way airlines would lose money selling a PE seat for double the cost of Y...

That would be my limit for expense in J (2x Y fare, ideally 70% max of base fare or $400 extra for 8 hr flight, 500 max). For flights to singapore willing to pay $400 extra max ideally, most I would do is $500. Of course using points that I accumulated for free or bought. If using cold hard less so inclined (max pay up to 70% of base fare).