Many businesses are counting every expense during this uncertain economic time. The ambiguity of Brexit on every industry has got all organisations retaining as much capital as possible in order to protect themselves from the event of a financial downturn.
One of the first luxuries to be cut from the budget usually is travel expenses. Business trips turn into Skype calls and when travel is necessary, Ryanair flights from Luton might be on the agenda!
Airlines are realising that business class no longer has that element of exclusivity that it once did. In order to retain the custom of business travellers, airlines are meeting demands by reducing the price of flights, however, at what cost?
Economy Becomes Crowded
Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Swiss International, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa are all airlines which are due to revamp their economy classes over the next two years. Their amendments of the economy class all feature one aspect in common.
Seats are being reduced in width, in order to increase carrying capacity on the plane. Cathay Pacific is reducing the width of their 18.5-inch economy seats to a snugger 17.3 inches, therefore, they can fit one more seat into each row. The 3-4-3 seat ratio is also to be adopted on British Airways and Lufthansa airbuses, especially for international flights.
Due to the decrease in seat size and increase in passengers, this has also affected the amount a passenger is allowed to recline. With further reductions to the economy experience being seen in less ‘freebies’ and minimal food allocations, one may wonder if the decrease in amenities is worth the savings in the passenger’s wallet?
The Rise of the Fourth Class: Premium Economy
What was once a novel idea has now become a normality on many airlines. Offering a little bit more comfort and style to those who only want to pay a little bit more. Bridging the gap between economy and business class has been an operational move that has paid off well for the industry.
Premium Economy usually offers extra leg room, free food and priority boarding, dependant on the airline, of course. It’s all starting to sound like what Business class use to offer, doesn’t it?
Is it Strictly Business?
As Premium Economy continues to fill the void for budget-conscious business travellers, Business Class, in turn, is evolving too. Business Class is becoming more luxurious than ever, Emirates are offering their business class passengers seats that recline fully, whilst Singapore Airlines has implemented HD entertainment touchscreens. Providing the business traveller with enough features for them to relax fully and forget all about the stresses of work.
The Ultra Budget Class
If economy saw an improvement through the creation of the Premium Economy, it may also see an adaptation to further reduce its offering. The Avio Interiors Skyrider design has transformed seating to become a standing affair. Whilst unlikely to be introduced anytime soon, the design gives light to what the future of short-haul flights may look like.
Your commute into London on a busy South West Train may mean having to stand for an hour, therefore, what’s the difference when flying to Paris? As long as all safety protocols are followed and you’re still allocated overhead storage for your bag, standing for a short flight might be fun? Different? Unique even?
Contact us at info@mbprivateclients.com or call us today to discuss how we can smooth your travel procedures and guarantee you Premium Economy on every flight!