First-class airline seats: disappearing species
United Airlines as it completes its merger with Continental is bucking at least one trend: it is adding first-class seats.
These have been steadily disappearing from international flights in recent years, a trend accelerating as business travelers were forced to cut costs to cope with the recession.
Some airlines such as Delta replaced first-class with categories such as “business elite” seats, reports the Ventura County Star.
Last year, Qantas Airways replaced first-class seats with business-class seats on all its Boeing 747-400 planes, saying it was responding to "changing demands."
"The economy has dictated the move away from premium seats, especially during the recession," said Rick Seaney, founder of farecompare.com, told the newspaper.
On international flights, Continental offers only economy seating and a "BusinessFirst" section that includes special meals and "flat bed" seats that fully recline.
"United is keeping first-class seats in order to compete internationally with Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Singapore and others, and to distinguish itself from Delta and US Airways," said George Hobica, head of airfarewatchdog.com.
By David Wilkening
David
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