Although most travelers prefer cheap fares, whether cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, airlines continue to look for ways to improve the flying experience of customers who pay for premium services. American Airlines has announced that it will be replacing the most expensive seats on its planes flying international routes and will discontinue its First Class seats on select planes.
Customers willing to sit in premium seats pay the highest fares. These seats also hold great appeal for frequent fliers looking to upgrade.
American expects to spend several hundreds of millions of dollars per year to enhance its premium customer experience. Most of the announced seating changes will not commence until 2014.
Currently all American planes offer at least two cabins: coach and a front cabin referred to as first class or business class. On select international flights there is a third cabin, referred to as Flagship Suite.
American is planning to go forward with only two cabins on its 777-200 planes to better match capacity and demand. It plans to install new lie flat business class seats on these planes.
Plans call for up to half of Americans 59 Boeing 767-300ERs to be overhauled. These planes are used primarily on flights to Europe, South America and select long range U.S. routes. The refurbished planes will have 28 lie flat business class seats installed.
Americans new 777s and refurbished 767s will offer Americans new Main Cabin Extra coach seats that come with additional legroom. Passengers will have to pay higher prices to gain access to these seats.
US Airways recently announced that it will upgrade business class seats on its 16 Airbus A330s which fly routes to Europe and to Tel Aviv, Israel. The seats will recline flat and come with power outlets as well as other amenities. www.cheapfares.com