What is the next cabin worth?
The question for this forum now is, what makes it worth, in $, getting to the next NZ cabin? And for argument's sake these prices from the Koru Review on flights to Shanghai; Economy $2,000, Premium Economy $2,700 and Business Premier $5,800.
So I see PE over economy as giving premium check-in (though I'd have that anyway), no difference in food, virtually no difference in beverage (but only because alcohol is not a big part of my long-haul flight experience), a bit better recline, a much better pitch, a lot better service via the crew-pax ratio, a chance to get off the plane quicker, a bit of snob-value, and (maybe, depending on the Y booking class) a few more FF miles.
For a significant long haul flight is that worth $700 to me? Absolutely. Why? Because I do value my time in getting on and off the plane, just happen to enjoy the better service, and the fewer pax and better recline gives me a better chance to sleep - which I also value. But this latter point, for me, is less important - because with ear plugs I could quite happily sleep for eight hours even in an unreclined economy seat.
So in a 12-15 hour overall flight experience it's worth maybe $500 to me to be treated nicely and to have my time saved, $190 to get one more hours sleep, and $10 in snob-value.
Then from PE to BP I would get no significant extra benefit in check-in / deplaning time (but would still give it some value), a much, much nicer meal (I do value that), a much better selection of beverage (I value, but not much), an infinitely better recline and pitch (which I would enjoy, but because I can sleep anywhere isn't of huge value), a whole extra level of service (which I value), a feelgood factor to my ego, and a nice increase in FF miles.
For a significant long haul flight is that worth $3,100 to me? Not a snowball's chance. Why? Mostly because I don't have that kind of spare cash lying around and so my first thought is about the other things I could do with that money instead.
I've rambled, but I'm curious how other people value those cabin progressions . . .
This is why I always fly Air NZ across the pacific (bad luck QF).
Being a bit over 6 foot, that extra leg-room is worth every $ and fewer pax is an advantage. As I posted in another thread, upgrades are easier and cost less airpoints or comp upgrades.
Slightly OT. On a work trip, sometimes the budget only allows for economy (if another company is paying). If I pay the upgrade to PE out of my own pocket, then the difference is a tax deduction, so essentially you are paying only 60-70% of the difference, depending on your tax bracket. (this should not be taken as tax advice !). Upgrades to business can stretch the personal budget for those flights across the pacific. Bottom line, it really isn't all that expensive in this context and 99% of my MEL-LAX and beyond flights are work related.
Another reason to fly PE (but not UA SYD-LAX which is not as good as Air NZ).
However, as Kiwi Flyer points out, the price difference especially between E and PE could easily, and in a realistic scenario, be a lot more. If you're travelling for a holiday and you book your ticket well in advance, as I think is common for a f.ex. US to NZ vacation, you are most likely comparing a very discounted E to a "standard" PE fare.
Spot check on airnz.com for a 2 week trip on random dates in late Feb07, LAX-AKL return:
E: ~USD1,200
PE: ~USD 2,800
(BP: ~USD 6,300)
Out of my own pocket... :rolleyes: I'm not sure the extras in PE are worth USD1,600 in this scenario.
Now, if you're a business traveller restriced to economy travel but you're travelling on a much shorter notice with, probably, very limited access to cheap Y fares, kiwibigdave's comparison is probably more relevant and the upgrade to PE a better deal.
Was tempting to pay the extra $1500 to come back in confirmed biz, though...
So AKL-LAX return may be about 2000 in economy, but almost 3500 in premium economy. Cf full business is 7000, discounted can be had (sometimes) for under 5000. In this case 1500 difference for premium economy is way too much IMHO. The business fare is also too much when you can get to europe (twice as far) for the same price - but this is supply and demand at work. So I look for ways to get it cheaper, like scheduling us visits into the same trip as europe, taking RTWs, etc.
While flying business class is a delightful change from cattle, you effectively get a much nicer seat (i.e. a bed) and a better meal. For NZ$2800 (or NZ$2100) I could get an extremely nice hotel room for a night and a fantastic meal, and still have plenty of change.
I just don't think that NZ$2000+ is worth just a nice seat and meal. I'd rather spend the money at my holiday destination.
I recall previously you could do some kind of surcharge of something around 400 GBP per sector from economy to business --- anyone know whether this still is in place, or what the $$ amounts are these days with the advent of premium economy?
It was occaisionally useful if you only had to be in a meeting/awake and aware after one leg of the journey.
ANZ Y product on the 747 is great, I just wish they gave Airpoints on their lowest fares, and I do not think the PE difference is all too great as I too do not drink alcohol on the long haul flights. I have not flown or seen the interior of the 777 so I cannot say whether it is worth it 31 Y pitch vs. 38 PE pitch.
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