11

Feb

by: the skeptical traveler

Premium Economy service will start July 11, 2013 from Montreal to Paris, with introduction on other international routes over time.

I like how the seat looks like

and some facts about: it it is larger (50.8 cm/20 in, between armrests) and has a greater recline (20.3 cm/8 in) as compared to Economy Class, the seat pitch is 96.5 cm (38 in).

However, more than the seat itself I was interested in the price. I checked on the AC site for some dates in July and:

Will I pay $400 more? I do not think so. Anyway for business travel (i.e. reimbursed by the company) there seems to be a market here.

Unless you are the CEO, executive first would be out of reach, but premium economy, companies will not  have the heart to oppose it :) .

Air Canada rouge will offer Premium rouge starting July 1, 2013 on the following routes: Toronto – Athens, Toronto – Venice, Toronto – Edinburgh, Montreal – Athens.

What else is part of the Premium Economy:

  • A new state-of-the-art entertainment system featuring your own personal 26.4 cm (10.4 in) touch-screen TV
  • Hundreds of hours of top-rated on-demand entertainment
  • In-seat power at every seat
  • A single-pin audio jack for your own headset, or complimentary headphones to keep after the flight
  • Complimentary wines, spirits and premium cuisine, and a hot towel with every meal service
  • Complimentary copy of our award winning enRoute magazine, and a selection of newspapers
  • An adjustable headrest, a comfortable pillow and blanket, as well as your own amenity kit
  • Ambient mood lighting and an individual reading light
  • An increased baggage allowance as compared to Economy Class
  • The following priority services: Priority boarding, check-in and baggage handling

http://twitter/curbexcitement

2 Comments

  1. Magnus said,

    I am pretty sure I wouldn’t pay $400 for that seat… But here is what gets me:

    A few years ago airlines started to reduce their 3-cabin aircraft to 2-cabins on their international routes, cleverly introducing the new product as “Business/First” or whatever clever nomenclature the marketing departments could come up with.
    Now many airlines are bringing back the 3rd cabin giving it some upgraded economy name… Just thinking…

  2. Alex L said,

    I agree with Magnus. The new Premium Economy is not too different from the Business Class of 10 years ago before lie-flat was the norm. I wonder what the mileage redemption cost will be in comparison to Y and C.

    Of course United is the exception where Economy Plus is complimentary for elites and is not designated as a separate class of service.

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