Comments on: Frontier Quietly Introduces Stretch Premium Economy

By: always on the verge of layoff

always on the verge of layoff — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:06:05 +0000

How bout we forget about the difference between 30 to 32 inch seat pitch and focus on the fact that if the general public doesn’t understand the difference between a 3 digit flight number and a 4 digit one, ( which most don’t) when they show up for there frontier flight everyone has spoke so highly of and see a royal blue brazil product marked midwest outside the gate they are already going to be completly confused and cramped on thier 3 hour ride and we probably won’t see them back anyways.

By: airline complaint

airline complaint — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:41:10 +0000

finally, much needed. i mean i am not 6 feet tall but this is a service that i would gladly pay a bit extra for. or, something to look forward for the elite members. i think this will do well and others will follow, no?

By: Upgrades and Downgrades: Continental BusinessFirst, Frontier, Expedia-Choice, miles for vets | Upgrade: Travel Better

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:42:37 +0000

[...] Frontier Airlines, front half Downgraded: Frontier Airlines, rear half Frontier Airlines is reorganizing the seatmap to put in an extra-legroom section in economy, a la United’s Economy Plus. The section, [...]

By: Nimitz

Nimitz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:21:00 +0000

@ Cranky
Yep, clearly in analyzing F9′s move, seat pitch is the measure. With same seats an inch less is an inch less. I was more referring to the general discussion, and whether pitch is a good measure of cross-carrier customer experience, though it may be the only measure available. As you point out, 31″ with slimline is probably comparable to 32″+ on other carriers with standard seats. If F9 can generate the revenue benefit provided by Stretch without putting themselves at competitive disadvantage in the rest of the plane, it’s a big win. Managing the perception of how Stretch impacts the back of the plane is key. Perhaps that is why they are soft launching.

By: NM

NM — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:54:38 +0000

I recently flew LAX-ATL on a DL 763 with 30″ seat pitch (window seat). I’m 6’5″, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

By: Old Airline Guy

Old Airline Guy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:49:07 +0000

Two interesting notes . . . when Frontier started 15 years ago with two leased ex-US/PI 737-200s the F seats were removed but the entire cabin was given F legroom. It was great. That ended when the -300s (ex-US and BF) were added to the fleet, so the premium legroom went away. Also, the AC pricing model is no coincidence. F9’s CEO (now Republic’s exec VP), Sean Menke, left F9 for AC, developed that pricing model, helped turn around AC and returned to F9. If First Data hadn’t pulled its shenanigans last year with Frontier’s credit card receipts Frontier’s ongoing profitability under Mr. Menke might have allowed it to remain an independent carrier. The rest of the industry should thank F9 for its bankruptcy filing: if First Data had been allowed to withhold 100% of credit card transactions until flights were completed then every airline would have faced the same situation from every credit card processor and the carriers would have tumbled like dominoes.
Stretch is just a competitive response to a changing industry with changing bucket structures, yield management and pricepoints.
BTW, I flew DEN-SEA-ANC in the back row middle seat on a fully-packed BF 737-400, high-density seating, 30 or 31 inch seat pitch. I’m 6’2″. Not being able to recline more than an inch against the back bulkhead was a bigger frustration than the legroom.

By: CF

CF — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

Dan Webb wrote:

And, is the maximum number of Classic Plus fares they’ll sell is the number of Stretch seats available?

I would assume so, but I don't know. Potcake wrote:

Sorry, Brett, have to disagree with you on this one. Imagine 30 in of pitch in the middle seat of one of F9’s longer-hauls, like DEN-LGA, for 4 hours. After that I don’t think the average economy flier’s next flight would be in Stretch, it would be on United or, more likely, Southwest.

I can understand choosing Southwest because of more legroom, but you aren't going to get it on United unless you pay up to Economy Plus. It's probably cheaper to buy up to Stretch on Frontier than it will be for Economy Plus on those longer hauls. Also, most of the seats will be 31" - I'm looking forward to getting clarification on which rows are 30" but I imagine it'll be those between Stretch and the exit row. Nimitz wrote:

Is pitch the best measure? What’s the N2N (Kneecap to Next Seat) on Frontier versus others?

In this case, pitch is a fine measure because they are reconfiguring the same exact seats from 32" to mostly 31" - so it is a loss of 1". But I believe that when they went from 33" to 32" they went slimline, so it wouldn't be as accurate. Certainly 31" in a slimline is better than 31" in a traditional UA seat.

By: Bobber

Bobber — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:31:14 +0000

Dan wrote:

On United, for $350, my companion and I get access to economy plus for an entire year.

Indeed! And, if news reports out of Heathrow this evening are to be believed, the chance of having an inebriated pilot as an added extra! Those United boys really are lightweights when it comes to drinking in London (so glad I'm flying with them in 36hrs time).

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:38:07 +0000

Ugh. The mere chance of getting a seat with 30″ pitch means my butt goes to a competing airline, *not* buying up on F9. If my companion and I choose to “upgrade” one round-trip flight together, we’d be paying at extra $200. On United, for $350, my companion and I get access to economy plus for an entire year.

By: Nimitz

Nimitz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:16:07 +0000

Is pitch the best measure? What’s the N2N (Kneecap to Next Seat) on Frontier versus others? I flew on Skybus 319′s, and despite their paltry seat pitch, the modern, slim line seats made the experience no less comfortable, perhaps I should say no more UNcomfortable, than others. Even CMH-BLI. I believe F9′s remaining 319 are quite new, perhaps with modern seats that give the experience of equivalent space on lower pitch.