#eva air b787

[pcgamer]

Watch This Amazing Night Landing At Clark Int. Airport - Eva Air B787-10...

[oh-great-authoress]

10 and 52 for the Trope Mash-Up :)

*Sigh*

Look what you made me do, Welsh.

Since I don't do anything by half-measures, I ended up writing you a fic with a word count of 3,329 words.

At first, I was wondering how on earth I was going to pull off mixing an Airport/Travel AU with the Marriage of Convenience trope, but then, like a ray of sunshine bursting through the clouds, inspiration struck.

Your ask actually could not have come at a better time—I am in the middle of an aviation hyperfixation, and while I had always had a passing love for aviation (my dad used to fly Cessnas as a hobby, and young me was always fascinated by his old maps and old-fashioned navigation devices), I never really got into it until, while in the midst of a lovely bout of sinusitis, I somehow started watching episodes of Mayday: Air Disaster on YouTube (which is about yep, airliner crashes), which subsequently led to a spiral, and now I watch an amazing planespotting channel on YouTube called LA Flights, based out of, you guessed it, LAX, on a regular basis.

Now, I even have favorite planes (which will be reflected in the story), and favorite liveries (EVA Air's Hello Kitty livery, ANA's Star Wars liveries, Qantas' Yayani Dreaming, Nalanji Dreaming, and Wunala Dreaming).

*Sighs Eternally*

Before we get into it, there's going to be pilot-y and Air Traffic Control terms used here, which, if you are as interested as I am, feel free to ask me or Google what it means.

I have also done my best to represent aviation protocol insofar as someone with a lot of time on their hands and with a hyperfixation can do, though I know that there will be a lot of inconsistencies and things which will make aviation geeks/people in the industry who might read this, cringe.

I sincerely hope they can bear to overlook those mistakes, and enjoy this little fic despite them.

Now, before this Author's Note becomes longer than the story, I apologize sincerely for the infodump, and without further ado, I give you this (shoddily titled) Gingerrose fic...

Destination: Love

It was a calm day at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and aboard Skywalker Airlines’ nonstop Airbus A380 service to Hanoi, First Officer Rose Tico was going over the pre-flight checklists with her Captain, Ben Solo.

She had exchanged flights with fellow First Officer Jessika Pava, because there was a Tico family reunion at the Tico Compound which was in a quiet area just outside of Hanoi, in a suburb called Hays Minor.

She’d been Second Officer on very many, many A380 flights, and First Officer on many other occasions, which was good for her, since this was the last flight to Hanoi by her airline before the start of the reunion.

The pre-flight checklists completed, they soon commenced pushback after receiving their departure clearance and prepared to taxi.

It took a while for ATC to clear the taxiways and the runways for the necessary space the A380 required, but they eventually got the long-awaited “Skyguy nine-seven-seven Super, taxi to runway three-one right via hotel and zeta. Cross runway two-two right.  Line up and wait.”

As the Pilot Monitoring, Rose read the instructions back, before Ben deftly moved the massive aircraft to their designated runway as they waited for takeoff clearance.

Soon after they lined up, ATC said, “Skyguy nine-seven-seven Super, cleared for takeoff, runway three-one right.”

Excitement in her voice, Rose replied, “Cleared for takeoff, runway three-one right, Skyguy nine-seven-seven Super,” then cued the intercom system, saying, “Cabin Crew, please prepare for takeoff, thank you.”

Takeoff had always been her favorite part of flying, the feeling like nothing else, and she was especially excited—the A380 was one of her favorite aircraft to pilot, along with the B787 “Dreamliner” and the B747.

Having given the cabin crew time to reach their seats, the engines spooled up, and soon they were moving down the runway.

Rose kept a careful eye on the speed readouts, just as she knew Ben was doing.

She soon called out, “V1,” signifying they’d reached the speed at which takeoff could no longer be halted, Ben calling out “Rotate,” after several beats, his deep baritone rumbling through the cockpit and her headphones, the two of them pulling up on the sidestick.

The massive aircraft lifted off, heading towards Hanoi.

Once they reached cruising altitude, sterile cockpit stickler Ben began, “So, family reunion,” Rose having told him earlier about why she was his First today, instead of Jess.

“Yeah, it’s a big affair, my grandmother Hanh is the one who organized it, so all of us tried to make it.”

“That’s good,” he smiled.  “I can’t imagine what a family reunion would be like—if my family tried, we’d all end up drunk or decked before dinner.”

She knew Ben’s family was complicated to say the least.

His mother, Leia Skywalker-Solo, beloved daughter of the late Anakin Skywalker, founder of Skywalker Airlines, was the current CEO of the company, his father, Captain Nathan “Han” Solo, the Airline’s former Chief Pilot, now its EVP, while his estranged uncle, Luke, was another former Chief Pilot and Assistant CEO for the airline who just up and left one day with no announcement, to start a commune of some sort in Ireland.

Needless to say, Mrs. Skywalker-Solo was pissed.

Everyone in the business knew of the debacle (despite the fact that this whole thing happened almost twenty years ago), and rumors had even swirled of a potential lawsuit.

Then there was the fact that in Ben’s own words, his Uncle Luke had “sort of abducted” twelve-year-old him.

His other “uncles”, Edward “Wedge” Antilles and Orlando “Lando” Calrissian, retired pilots for British Airways and United respectively, still kept in touch with Luke, so Leia wasn’t really fond of them.

“Ohh, believe me, the Tico family has plenty of drama, you’re not the only one with crazy relatives.”

She could name a couple off the top of her head whom she wouldn’t mind not seeing until hell froze over and pigs flew.

Ben chuckled.

Here, the cockpit door chime buzzing drew the attention of the two pilots.

Rose cued the monitor, checking who it was, before pressing the button to let them in.

The tall, red-haired figure opened the door, ducking his head slightly as he stepped through, shutting it firmly behind him.

“Armitage,” Ben grinned, “what can we lowly pilots do for you, oh Purser Most Magnificent?”

“You can give me your lunch orders, that’s what you can do,” he sniped back, rolling his jade-green eyes good-naturedly.

“What’s on the menu?”

“We have the roast herbed chicken, the vegetarian lasagna and the Vietnamese-style braised cod fillet,” he prompted.

“I’ll have the chicken, unless Rose wants it,” Ben replied, following protocol that pilots could not eat the same thing for safety purposes.

“No, you can have that, I’ll have the fish, Armitage, thank you.”

“And your drinks?”

“Coke for me,” Ben said.

“Ginger ale, please,” Rose beamed.

“I’ll have that in for you shortly,” Armitage smiled gently, nodding at her.

He then turned to Ben, snarking, “And do try to keep the plane level, Solo, at least during my lunch service.  None of your flyboy antics.”

Ben shot off a nonchalant salute, which made Armitage sigh, and cast a long-suffering look at her as he went to the door, which made her snicker quietly as she pressed the button to unlock it.

Once the door clicked shut, she amusedly shook her head, her thoughts turning to the man who’d just left.

UK native Armitage Hux was the flight’s Purser for the first shift, and he’d already been rising in the ranks by the time she joined Skywalker Airlines.

He was highly competent, and he ran a tight ship, prompting some members of the cabin crew who’d worked with him to call him “General”.

Rose herself had flown with him as Purser many, many times over the years, and she had grown to appreciate the man’s snarky and whip-sharp sense of humor.

True to his word, Armitage soon had their meals ready, delivering them to the cockpit, both trays balanced on one arm.

After double-checking that the autopilot was on, the two pilots pulled up their tray tables, Armitage serving Ben first.

“For our Supreme Leader,” Armitage drawled, “we have the roast herbed chicken, with a regular coke.”

And turning to her, he continued, “And last but not least, for our lovely First Officer, we have the Cá Kho Tộ, with a ginger ale.”

It took a second for Rose to realize that he’d pronounced the Vietnamese name of the dish with perfect intonation.

“How—how do you know how to pronounce that?” Rose incredulously asked.

“I—well,” he uncharacteristically stammered, “I can speak Vietnamese.”

“What?!”  She cried in amazement.

“Er,” he said, idly scratching the back of his neck, “it—it helps, as a Flight Attendant, to speak multiple languages… y—yes, that’s why.”

“Well, your intonation is really good, I dare say it’s even better than mine.”

“Thank you—coming from you, that—that means everything,” he replied, a rare, true, wide smile on his lips.

“You’re welcome, Armitage, and thank you for serving our lunch,” she grinned.

For a split second, he looked almost frozen as he looked at her, the smile still lingering on the edges of his mouth, before he nodded, and turned to Ben, saying, “See, Solo?  Officer Tico has manners, unlike some others I know.”

“I prefer to call myself ruggedly dispositioned,” Ben solemnly remarked.

“Tomato, tomahto.”

And with that, Armitage left the cockpit, Rose again pressing the button to let him out.

After several uneventful hours, Ben and Rose came to the end of their shift, handing control of the aircraft to their relief crew, Edgar “Poe” Dameron and Finnegan “Finn” Trooper.

Ben and Rose settled into their allotted seats at the front of the first-class cabin for the dinner service, Ben taking the pork chop and Rose the beef phở, being served this time by the second shift’s Purser, Ben’s wife, Reyna “Rey” Solo.

Rose, lost in thought, led to Ben finishing before she did, the latter wishing her goodnight before ostensibly heading to the flight crew rest area just outside the cockpit, though she knew he was in reality lingering in the galley, talking to Rey.

Her thoughts wandered to her family as she pensively gazed at the bulkhead.

She was the only one left in her family above twenty-one who had no children, no husband, let alone a boyfriend.

Even her older sister, who had a successful career in the Navy, was married with one child.

She didn’t regret pursuing her career—not at all, flying had always been her dream—but as she got older, she was beginning to feel something almost like regret that there wasn’t anyone waiting for her back at her tiny New York City apartment.

Oh, what did it harm to admit it, she was a little bit lonely.

But the problem with her chosen career vis à vis dating, was that because of her schedule, the occasional date she went on, they typically fizzled out, the combination of Rose never staying in one city for long, the men not patient enough to wait for her to pass through again, and her vacations never lasting long enough for a relationship to truly develop, creating the perfect storm.

And even those few within the industry she’d gone out with… oof.

The less said about them, the better.

She had hope though, her prime example being Ben and Rey—somehow, they made it work.

Surely there were men in the industry who weren’t misogynistic creeps or fuckboys.

Those were the worst.

At least, for her constant, she had the open skies, and that was more than consolation enough.

As she sipped the surprisingly decent beef broth, she felt a presence sink into the seat next to her which Ben had vacated.

She turned, and to her surprise, Armitage was seated next to her, having discarded the black uniform jacket, leaving him in the matching black waistcoat, diagonally-striped blue, gold and red tie, white shirt, black trousers, and special black dress shoes with rubber soles, polished to an inch of their life, far shinier than most other members of the flight crew bothered to do.

“Armitage.  This is a pleasant surprise.  What’s keeping you up?  I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

He pointed an unfairly elegant hand towards the galley, through which she could hear Ben and Rey’s hushed voices.

“Someone has to make sure that the cabin is running smoothly, what with Solo monopolizing his wife’s time,” he sighed.

Rose laughed quietly, “You can’t blame him, he loves spending time with her, and this is the first time he’s seen her in nearly a week.”

“He’s lucky he’s an old friend, otherwise I’d tell him to get his arse to the rest cabin.”

Rose laughed at the plight of the exasperated Purser.

“But off the topic of Solo, what was it that had you looking so pensive?”  He asked, leaning an elbow on the armrest, a concerned look on his face.

“That obvious, huh?”  She paused, gathering her thoughts.  “I swapped flights with Jessika Pava because I have to be in Vietnam for a family reunion—everyone’s going to be there, and there’s family members with whom I have… a complicated relationship, to varying degrees, for various reasons.

I…”  She trailed off, something in her wanting to open up to him.  “I’m the only one in my family not in a committed relationship.

My mother and my grandmother, they’re worried about me, that I’ll be alone forever, and I’m glad that they care, I love that they care, but you combine that with my Aunt Giang, who’s always telling me through my grandmother, horror stories from her friends of spinsterhood, my grand-aunts, Thu and Xuân, who see me as a disappointment, and last but not least, the bane of my existence, my cousin Clarisse with her perfect marriage, perfect kids, perfect career, perfect house, perfect everything, who does not miss an opportunity to lord all that over me?

Well.

So, uh, I’m a little… yeah,” she finished on a sigh.

“Wow,” Armitage frowned, “that’s… intense.”

“Tell me about it,” Rose scoffed.

“I myself am no stranger to family drama, but my own is of a rather different flavor,” he said with the distinct air of someone who had a story.

“Oh?”

“Chronically unfaithful father—couldn’t keep it in his pants to save his life, and an illegitimate child.  Me,” he replied, with no small amount of bitterness in his tone.

“Oh.”

“Hmm.  Yes, oh.”

“I, um, no offense, but uh, I’ll take my flavor any day over yours, come to think of it,” she sheepishly replied.

“None taken,” he chuckled, “I wouldn’t wish my family’s drama on anyone.”

“That’s horrible—I’m so sorry your family life was that bad,” she sympathetically said.

“It’s the past, but I thank you for your… sympathy.”

“Do… do you still talk to your father?”

“No, and thank God I don’t have to, because he’s dead—shot by the husband of a woman he slept with.”

“What about your mother?”

Armitage sighed, “She’s doing well, I try to take a Dublin route every month or so, so I can see her.”

“Dublin?”

“My mother’s Irish, lives in a small town near the coast, called Arkanis.”

“That explains the um,” she breathed, gesturing to his hair.

“The hair?”  He chuckled, “Yes, it does, doesn’t it?”

They soon lapsed into a peaceful silence.

Armitage soon broke it, asking, “I don’t mean to rush you, but are you done?  Your phở might be cold.”

“Oh, yeah—let me just—” Rose made short work of the little that was left in the bowl before saying, “I can take it to the galley myself, you don’t have to—”

“None of that, it’s my pleasure.  Hand that tray over.”

Rose sighed, saying, “Alright, but, I just—just wanted to thank you.”

“For what?  Doing something that’s literally part of my job description?”  He smiled slightly.

“No, for listening to me.  It was nice to tell someone about my family stuff, and… thank you for sharing your stuff too, I can’t imagine that was easy.”

“Well, when someone… someone’s like you, it makes it… easy, I suppose.  But you’re welcome, all the same.  Now hand over that tray.”

She wasn’t sure what possessed her, but she saucily replied, leaning in, “Or what, you’ll take it?”

He likewise leaned in, breathing, “I just might, Officer Tico,” his voice caressing the syllables of her title and last name in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.

He then inhaled sharply, leaning back once more, shattering the odd moment, holding out a hand.  “Tray.”

Rose promptly handed it over, placing a slightly strained smile on her face as she tried to figure out what just happened, as he stood.

“Now go and rest, you’ll need it to deal with the family members you dislike.  And do let me know if you need any liquid courage, I’m pretty sure I can snitch you a few of the small bottles from first class.  Lord knows I could have used the same when my father was alive.”

She laughed, her smile turning genuine at his offer.  “I just might take you up on it.”

“Goodnight, Officer Tico.”

“Night, Armitage.”

And with that, he retreated to the galley, where she heard his voice snap, “Honestly, Solo?

You have been talking for… twenty minutes, and if I’m not mistaken, your wife is the second shift Purser, not me.

Let your wife do her job, while you go and sleep, as you’re supposed to.”

Rey softly spoke, a smile in her voice, “Armitage is right, sweetheart, go and rest, I’ll see you soon.”

After a beat, Ben’s voice murmured, “Let the record show that I’m going because Rey asked me to, not you, Armitage.”

“I don’t care why you’re going, just go.”

“You’re lucky you’re my friend, Armie, though I don’t know why.”

“Neither do I, and don’t call me Armie.”

“Whatever you say… Armie.”

With that, she heard retreating footsteps, accompanied by a growl of irritation.

“Whatever do you see in that berk, Rey?”

Rey’s musical laugh quietly sang out.  “Probably the same thing that makes you stay his friend no matter how much you get on each other’s nerves.”

A pause.  “Probably, dammit.  I’m going to rest now, Rey, you call me if you need me.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” she cheekily replied, before Rose heard a sigh, and another set of retreating footsteps, Rose finally letting out the quiet laugh she had wanted to laugh throughout the whole exchange.

The next day, after a smooth landing at Noi Bai International from Poe, the cabin crews and the flight crews disembarked, some departing to go to their next flight, Ben, Rey, Poe, and Finn included, the rest quickly clearing customs, and making their way to the arrivals.

Rose straightened her uniform, pulling her suitcase to a stop as she glanced at her cellphone—her family was late picking her up.

“Waiting for your family?”  A familiar voice sounded from her left.

She jumped, spinning on her heel.

Armitage was standing there, in full uniform, an embarrassed smile on his face.  “My apologies for startling you, Officer Tico.”

Collecting herself, she replied, “I—uh—no apology necessary, but um, w—what are you doing here?  I thought you had another flight?”  She could have sworn she saw him with the others heading to other flights.

“I… actually have a layover of a week here in Vietnam, I just got notice, and when I saw you here, I… I figured I’d wait with you until your family comes, for moral support.”

A wide, touched smile burst out on her face.

“Thank you so much, you don’t have to do that,” she whispered.

“It’s the least I can do for a—for a friend.”

Her jaw dropped, and she would have hugged him right there if not for the voice which stopped her heart.

“Oh my gosh, look, it’s Rosie-Posy!!”  The unfortunately familiar high-pitched voice screeched through the arrivals area, prompting several people to turn and look at the swiftly approaching woman, with an obvious bottle-blonde hair color, wearing uncomfortably bright-colored designer clothes.

“Oh, God in Heaven, help me, it’s Clarisse,” Rose whispered through a patently fake smile.

“The one with no concept of social decency?”  He murmured through an equally fake smile.

“Yep.”

Clarisse had now reached hugging distance and she cried, arms extended, “Oh my Dior, Chanel, and Saint Laurent, it’s so good to see you, Rosie, it’s been forever and a day since I’ve seen you, come here and hug your favorite cousin!”

With a pained smile on her face, she hugged Clarisse, the thought that forever and a day wasn’t long enough, flitting through her mind.

When Clarisse pulled back, she noticed Armitage, remarking, “And who is this?  You had me worried for a while that you’d show up alone, you know, just like every other time.”

The fake concern grated on Rose’s nerves, as she braced herself for the fake pity.  “This is Armitage, he’s—”

To her everlasting and eternal shock, he smoothly stepped forward and extended his hand, saying, “I’m Rose’s husband.”

Clarisse’s jaw dropped, and honestly?  So did Rose’s, as Clarisse managed a, “What?”

Rose looked at Armitage, trying to convey “What the literal hell,” through her gaze alone.

He looked at her encouragingly, conveying, “Just go with it,” through his expression.

She paused for a second more, stewing in the uncertainty, the veritable insanity of this hare-brained scheme, before the thought, “In for a penny, in for a pound,” murmured through the processes of her mind that were still functioning.

And Rose spoke the fateful, “Yes, Clarisse, this is Armitage, my husband.”

[businessweekme]

Qantas, Delta, Singapore Are Tops for Premium Economy Cabins

Twenty years after international airlines such as U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic and Taiwan’s EVA Air introduced the premium economy concept, the section between coach and business class still represents fewer than 4 percent of seats in the sky, according to a recent Travelport/Carlson Wagonlit study.

Meanwhile, U.S. carriers have been far more concerned with basic economy—“economy minus” to some—than its premium counterpart. But for fliers who want roomier seats, better meals, larger entertainment screens, and more personalized service without an extravagant price tag, the options are starting to grow.

In the last year, American Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. both rolled out premium economy on international flights while United Airlines has started installing new “Premium Plus” seats aboard a handful of its long-haul jets. Like most premium economy tickets, they tend to cost two to three times as much as coach and half the price of business class.

Why the sudden uptick? Longer flight routes, such as Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s new flight from its namesake hub to Newark, are making comfort as important as affordability; for that 19-hour flight, the airline decided to nix coach service entirely, including only premium economy and business class seats.

“Our premium economy passengers are a mix of leisure travelers on special occasions and business travelers who appreciate the value,” says Phil Capps, head of customer experience at Australian airline Qantas Airways, another carrier noted for its long hauls. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.’s senior vice president of the Americas, Philippe Lacamp, agrees. He says these cabins are about making a “trade up” for small business entrepreneurs, not luring executives away from business class.

Wherever you fall on that spectrum, here is a ranking of cabins that most warrant the upgrade from coach, based on such factors as seat size, amenities, availability, and *price. Consider it your handbook to flight survival, both for the hectic holiday season and beyond.

*Fares cited in this story were the lowest available from January-March 2019.

  1. Singapore Airlines

Though Singapore Airlines’ elegant first-class suites and spacious business class seats get much of the attention, the airline’s premium economy is an industry benchmark as well.

Why it’s better than coach: Aboard the airline’s A350s, A380s and some B777-300ERs, seats offer six inches of additional legroom, an impressive nine inches of recline, and such upscale touches as leather upholstery and extendable footrests. There’s also a service called “Book the Cook” that lets passengers pre-order meals designed by a coterie of celebrity chef partners, and noise-canceling headphones let you tune out while watching movies on a 13.30-inch HD touchscreen.

Price difference: On flagship routes, expect markups of 60 percent to 150 percent. That’s roughly $550 more between Singapore and San Francisco ($893 in coach and $1,448 in premium), or an additional $1400 between Singapore and London.

  2. Delta

Along with new business-class suites with closing doors, Delta introduced a similarly souped-up Premium Select section last year. You can find it on A350s and select B777-200s and B757-200s.

Why it’s better than coach: Aboard the A350, having one fewer seat per row than economy allows for eight inches more legroom and seven inches of recline. You’ll also get an additional inch of entertainment screen space; adjustable footrests, legrests, and headrests; and several personal stowage spaces. Partnerships with LSTN (for headphones), TUMI (for amenity kits), and Alessi (for serve ware) also add a luxurious touch.

Price difference: Fares fluctuate dramatically, depending on the route. Tickets from Detroit to Shanghai started at $1,047 in economy and $2,103 in premium economy, while those from Atlanta to Seoul cost $1,648 in economy and $2,119 in premium economy.

  3. Qantas

The Australian carrier’s latest and most comfortable premium economy seats, by industrial designer David Caon, debuted last year on the fleet’s B787 Dreamliners.

Why it’s better than coach: These cabins offer two to three additional inches of legroom, three of recline, and seven to eight  of pitch when compared to the back of the plane. They have innovative calf rests engineered to offer better ergonomic support than Qantas’s previous premium economy seats; the new ones offer complimentary adjustable headrests fitted with specially designed pillows. Pull-out shelves for your phone or tablet are a nice extra, as are the dedicated check-in counters at the airport and the self-serve bar for mid-flight snacks, should you feel hungry after a multicourse meal.

Price difference: Every minute counts on flights that can last over 17 hours, so passengers might not mind paying nearly three times as much for a ticket from Los Angeles to Melbourne or Perth to London. (These routes have been running $2,534 and $3,085, respectively.)

  4. Cathay Pacific

One of the best-designed premium economy cabins has rolled out on Cathay Pacific’s A350s, while its B777-300ERs are currently being updated with ergonomic leg rests and additional leg room.

Why it’s better than coach: Six-way adjustable headrests and padded, extendable leg rests mean you’ll always find a comfortable sleep position. These seats are also extra roomy, with dimensions of 20 inches wide and 40 inches of pitch. A small but delightful touch: Aisle-side armrests lower completely so passengers can swivel, rather than get up, to let their neighbors stroll out of the row. Welcome drinks, priority check-in, and generous baggage allowances are icing on the cake.

Price difference: Those additional touches can double the price of a round-trip ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong ($1,273, vs. $665 in economy) and add even more to the cost of a flight from Hong Kong to Sydney ($1,414, vs. $560 in coach).

  5. American Airlines

One year after introducing international premium economy, American’s seats can be found on the airline’s A330-200s, B777-300ERs, B787-9s, and some B777-200s.

Why it’s better than coach: Everything from check-in to security and boarding is expedited when you’re in premium—including retrieving checked luggage. In addition to three inches of additional width and seven inches more of pitch, you’ll get Casper pillows and blankets, small amenity kits, and meals designed by celebrity chefs such as James Beard Award-winner Maneet Chauhan.

Price difference: The upgrade won’t double your fare on major international routes, but it comes close: A round-trip from Dallas to Paris, for example, starts at $555 in economy and $990 in premium economy.

  6. Air New Zealand

This antipodean airline has some of the roomiest premium economy seats in the sky, and more passengers will benefit as it expands its long-haul route network.

Why it’s better than coach: Air New Zealand Ltd. takes the top prize when it comes to seat size. All are 19.3 inches wide and have 41 to 42 inches of pitch and 9 inches of recline—plus a 5-inch armrest, so you won’t have to wrestle your seatmate for space. That should compensate for the small entertainment screens—a mere 11 inches wide—as should the Kiwi-sourced wines served with dinner.

Price difference: Premium economy fares on the airline’s new flights from Auckland to Chicago start at $3,669, while economy fares cost $1,352. Those from Los Angeles to Auckland start at $2,619 in premium economy and $899 in coach.

  7. Virgin Atlantic

This trendsetting airline was one of the first to introduce a premium economy cabin—way back in 1992, when it was called Mid Class. These days, it feels just as fresh.

Why it’s better than coach: Virgin’s leather-covered premium seats are among the widest in their class, at 21 inches. (As with Air New Zealand, though, the entertainment screens are among the smallest, at 11 inches wide.) In service upgrades, expect multi-dish meals served on china, a self-serve snack bar, and priority check-in and baggage-handling services so your luggage comes out earlier at the carousel.

Price difference: A cheap economy flight from New York to London, round-trip, costs as little as $425; upgrade and it’s upward of $1,280. The upcharge isn’t quite as steep on other routes, such as London to Johannesburg, where you’ll pay closer to double for premium economy.

  8. Air Canada

Air Canada stands out for its extensive network of long-haul and international flights with premium economy seats; find them on all A330s, B777s, and B787s.

Why it’s better than coach: The perks are standard: up to 3 inches of additional width (depending on aircraft), 7 inches of added legroom, and one bonus inch of recline. Two free checked bags can compensate for some of your ticket cost, as can complimentary wine and spirits. But the real selling point is the almost-ubiquitous availability on routes that cover much of the globe.

Price difference: You’ll pay two to three times as much as coach fares—a premium, indeed. That’s $1,766, instead of $507, heading from Toronto to London, or $2,171, instead of $1,106, from Vancouver to Tokyo. (Both are round-trip fares.)

The post Qantas, Delta, Singapore Are Tops for Premium Economy Cabins appeared first on Bloomberg Businessweek Middle East.

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[hieristhailand]

EVA Air stopt met Premium Economy Class

EVA Air stopt met Premium Economy Class

Met de komst van een nieuw toestel waar EVA Air vanaf volgend jaar zomer gaat vliegen, stopt de vliegmaatschappij met de populaire Premium Economy Class op de lijn Amsterdam-Bangkok-Taipei. 

Vanaf 9 juli volgend jaar gaat EVA Air vliegen met de B787-Dreamliner. Een kleiner vliegtuig dat veel minder brandstof verbruikt en dus milieuvriendelijker is. En het maakt ook veel minder lawaai. Daarmee…

[cheapfaresnews]

Which Airlines Offer More Legroom?

When considering your cheap travel options, such as cheap airplane tickets, cheap fares, cheap deals, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discount travel deals, and cheap vacation packages, do not make the mistake of assuming that travel on all airlines is equal.

Selecting the airline which offers the most legroom is preferable so long as that airline’s ticket prices are comparable to its competitors.  Seat pitch which is the distance from any point on an airline seat to the same point on the seat in the next row, is the most reliable measure of total front to rear seat space/legroom.

The average economy seat pitch is between 30 to 31 inches on the “Big Three” legacy U.S. airlines (American, Delta, and United), compared to 28 to 30 inches on low-fare competitors, and 32 to 33 inches on select niche airlines.  Transatlantic airlines typically offer about the same seat pitch, with the average a little higher on transpacific airlines.

Big airlines operate dozens of different types of planes, often without a single standardized seat pitch. Newer planes sometimes have different pitch seats than older ones, and pitch can change when planes are refurbished.

Given these uncertainties, there are only a few airlines that reliably offer above average pitch on all of its flights.  

In North America the airline offering the most legroom, with 34 inches of seat pitch across all its planes is Interjet.  This Mexico based, low-cost airline flies from a handful of U.S. cities to many destinations in Mexico, as well as a few in Central and South America, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Guatemala.  Interjet operates Airbus A320s and Sukhoi SU9 Superjets.  It claims to intentionally forego about 30 seats on each of its planes to give its passengers more space.

JetBlue comes in second, with a range of 32 to 34 inches on all its planes.  JetBlue’s fleet used to offer the most legroom, at 34 inches or better, until in recent years JetBlue started adding more main cabin seats and decreasing legroom.  JetBlue’s affordable “Even More Space” option remains the best legroom in the sky, with 37 inches of pitch.

Virgin America’s planes feature 32 inches of seat pitch across its fleet of A319, A320, and A321 planes.  Alaska Airlines recently purchased Virgin America and has not announced whether it will adjust Virgin America’s seat pitch to match its fleet wide standard. Porter offers 32 inches of pitch on all its Bombardier Q-400 turboprop planes, aiming for a higher-end niche on its regional flights in Canada and Eastern U.S.  Turboprop planes are usually viewed as louder and less desirable than standard jets.

Southwest recently shrank its fleet wide pitch to 31 inches, a decrease of one to two inches. Likewise, Alaska is downgrading its main cabin pitch to 31 inches on all its new and refurbished planes compared to its previous standard of 32 inches.

Most North American airlines average economy pitch is 30 to 31 inches.  Larger airlines still fly some planes, usually older models, that retain 32 inches or better.  Among them are Air Canada E175s at 32 to 34 inches, older Alaska 7372 that remain at 32 to 33 inches, some American 757-200s at 32 inches, Hawaiian 767-300s at 32 inches, and United B787s at 32 inches.

The low fare airlines range from 30 inches on Allegiant to as low as 28 inches on Frontier and Spirit.

Long haul airlines that travel to North America retain pitches of 32 inches or more on at least some of their intercontinental planes.  A few airlines, mostly based in Asia, offer pitches that range from 33 to 36 inches:

Air India: 33     inches to 34 inches

Air Tahiti     Nui:  33 inches

ANA: Some at 34     inches

Asiana: 32 to 34     inches

EVA: 33 to 36     inches

JAL: 33 to 34     inches

Air China: Most     long-haul planes at 32 to 33 inches

Turkish: 33 to     34 inches

There are many European and Asian airline that provide 32 inches of pitch or more, on at least many of their planes:

AeroMexico: 31     to 36 inches

Air France: 32     inches

Air New Zealand:     32 inches

Cathay Pacific:     All long-haul planes at 32 inches

China Airlines:     Most long-haul planes at 32 inches

China Eastern:     32 inches

China Southern:     32 inches

El Al: 32 inches

Emirates: 32 to     34 inches

Ethiopian: 32 to     33 inches

Etihad: 31.5 to     33 inches

Finnair: 32     inches

Icelandair: 32     to 33 inches

Korean: 32 to 34     inches

LATAM Brasil: 32     inches

LATAM Chile: 32     inches

LOT Polish: 32     inches

Philippine: 32     to 33 inches

Qatar: 32 to 33     inches

Royal Jordanian:     32 inches

Saudia: All     long-haul planes at 32 inches

Singapore: 32     inches

South African:     32 to 33 inches

Swiss: 32 inches

TACA: 32 to 33     inches

TAP: All     long-haul planes at 32 to 33 inches

Thai: 32 inches     to 34 inches

Turkish: 31 to     34

Virgin     Australia: 32 inches

Xiamen: 32     inches

Other large airlines, including British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa usually offer a 31-inch pitch, as does low-fare newcomer Norwegian Air Shuttle.

SeatGuru provides detailed information on legroom by airline or other seat dimensions and covers most in North America, listing 135 individual airlines.  The U.K. based “Seatplans” website provides information on African, Asian, and European airlines, listing more than 200 airlines.

www.cheapfares.com

[hieristhailand]

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