3 ms·

You can actually get that (and more) in first or business class. Most people don't want to pay for that level of service though.

CharlesW 9y ago
> Most people don't want to pay for that level of service though. And if it's on the company's dime, many (most?) companies won't.
mikeash 9y ago
Exactly! The stuff people say they want is only a click away, but when the time comes to pay, their real desires make themselves known.
- untog 9y ago
  Sure, but the price differential is crazy. I will frequently pay extra for an exit row, at $50-$75. But an upgrade to business class is often three times the price of economy. And it's just not worth that much.
  - mikeash 9y ago
    Sounds reasonable to me. That seat probably takes up close to 3x the area.
    - SeoxyS 9y ago
      The market is segmented reasonably. Most people won't pay for business, so most seats are economy. On certain routes, the flight is so unpleasant that economy would be unbearable for most, so airlines have planes that don't have economy (e.g. SIN-JFK on Singapore Airlines used to be all business class; when the route comes back with their A350-10 deliveries, it'll be all premium economy and business). Personally, I fly only in business or first on long flights, and buy economy on short flights. It's worth it to me to avoid the jet lag and be able to bear the amount of travel I do (in the past year I've probably done over 40 flights >5h and close to 100 flights total). Flying domestically in economy becomes a lot more comfortable if you give a legacy airline your loyalty. e.g. I get upgraded to first two third of the time and always get the best seating, priority lines, free drinks & food onboard, and lounge access as a United 1K frequent flyer.
- sgift 9y ago
  Only a click - if you can pay it. You make it sound as if everyone can pay the prices that companies want for a first class flight.
  - mikeash 9y ago
    That's my whole point. People say they want these things, but the reality is that they don't want to pay what these things cost. Of course I want bigger seats and great food while still paying the rock-bottom prices we currently have for cattle-class tickets. But that's not realistic. If you say you want X, but always choose Y because it's cheaper, then you have no room to complain about how bad Y is.

CharlesW 9y ago

> Most people don't want to pay for that level of service though. And if it's on the company's dime, many (most?) companies won't.

mikeash 9y ago

Exactly! The stuff people say they want is only a click away, but when the time comes to pay, their real desires make themselves known.

untog 9y ago
Sure, but the price differential is crazy. I will frequently pay extra for an exit row, at $50-$75. But an upgrade to business class is often three times the price of economy. And it's just not worth that much.
- mikeash 9y ago
  Sounds reasonable to me. That seat probably takes up close to 3x the area.
  - SeoxyS 9y ago
    The market is segmented reasonably. Most people won't pay for business, so most seats are economy. On certain routes, the flight is so unpleasant that economy would be unbearable for most, so airlines have planes that don't have economy (e.g. SIN-JFK on Singapore Airlines used to be all business class; when the route comes back with their A350-10 deliveries, it'll be all premium economy and business). Personally, I fly only in business or first on long flights, and buy economy on short flights. It's worth it to me to avoid the jet lag and be able to bear the amount of travel I do (in the past year I've probably done over 40 flights >5h and close to 100 flights total). Flying domestically in economy becomes a lot more comfortable if you give a legacy airline your loyalty. e.g. I get upgraded to first two third of the time and always get the best seating, priority lines, free drinks & food onboard, and lounge access as a United 1K frequent flyer.
sgift 9y ago
Only a click - if you can pay it. You make it sound as if everyone can pay the prices that companies want for a first class flight.
- mikeash 9y ago
  That's my whole point. People say they want these things, but the reality is that they don't want to pay what these things cost. Of course I want bigger seats and great food while still paying the rock-bottom prices we currently have for cattle-class tickets. But that's not realistic. If you say you want X, but always choose Y because it's cheaper, then you have no room to complain about how bad Y is.