Delta Airlines announced on Monday that it can add premium economy service to transcontinental flights starting in September, the newest try and boost sales of higher-priced tickets to customers willing to pay more for extra space and perks.
Premium Economy is a comparatively recent class of service offered by major airlines on longer, mostly international flights. It sits between First Class or Business Class and the remaining of Economy Class and may often cost twice as much as Standard Class.
Delta and its competitors like United are in an arms race so as to add more premium seats to their planes, upgrade lounges and sell more loyalty cards to succeed in big-spending travelers while overall airfares fall. JetBlue Airways This 12 months, the group said its turnaround plan would concentrate on profitable routes offering its Mint business class cabin. Southwest AirlinesUnder pressure to extend revenue, Lufthansa is considering introducing costlier seats on its planes, breaking with its decades-old business model.
Delta's important cabin ticket revenue increased 4% year-over-year to $5.4 billion in the primary quarter, while premium product revenue increased 10% to $4.4 billion.
The additional service shall be offered on 4 of 11 peak day flights between Los Angeles and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on September 10. Boeing 767. Delta has announced plans to expand the service later this 12 months.
Delta customers who purchase Standard Economy Class tickets can upgrade to Premium Economy Class on transcontinental flights for a fee.
Delta said elite members of its Medallion loyalty program shall be eligible at no cost upgrades to what it calls Delta Premium Select, but may even have the option to join upgrades to its flagship Delta One product on those flights.
Some Delta aircraft used to have premium economy seats on some routes, however the airline didn’t offer the amenities that go together with them, akin to grooming kits, noise-cancelling headphones, a full meal and a blanket. The seats were sold as extra legroom tickets, one level below premium economy.
Some American AirlinesOn shorter domestic flights, an analogous model with reclining seats is used, but without the flagship service offered on international flights.
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