JetBlue pitch!!!

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I don't have the e-mail in front of me but... JetBlue is removing a row of seats from some (or all, that's the part I don't remember) their planes by the end of March. This will add two inches of pitch in rows 2 through 11.

What's pitch? The distance from the front of one seat to the front of the seat behind it. These rows currently have 32" pitch (still generous) while the rest of the plane has and will remain at 34 inches.

What's this mean? LEG ROOM!!

 

[bavaria]

and with United Economy Plus having 35-36 inches seat pitch, you can see why I am very loyal to them.....

 

[CarolA]

AA did this several years ago. It was called "More Room Throughout Coach" or something like that.

However, AA raised fares just a tiny bit to compensate for the lost seats. Guess what? Most Americans TALK about wanting comfort/service etc, but when they open thier wallet LOW price won. (AA has quiely reconfigured most of it's fleet since it wasn't as profitable)

 

[Ludwig Von Drake]

Would love to know the details...we have row 7 in April, and woud love a little more leg room. First time flying Jetblue, and didn't notice the seat pitch info when I selected my seats. Either way, I can't wait to try Jetblue!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I heard the seat removal is due to JetBlue removing a flight attendant on each flight, thus they may not have as many PAX per flight.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/12/jetblue_to_remo.html

 

[Jeanne B]

Hmmm, we're in row 3 on our flight to California in June and I have long legs so I'd be very happy if we end up with more room, especially on a long non-stop flight from Boston to CA!! (Just hope it's not my row that they're taking the seats out of!! )

 

[shafke]

I heard the seat removal is due to JetBlue removing a flight attendant on each flight, thus they may not have as many PAX per flight.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/12/jetblue_to_remo.html

I remember reading some about this also.

There current configuration is 26 rows of 6 or 156 seats and regulations require 1 FA for every 50 passengers. Removing one row means 1 less FA. Jetblue will lose about $500-$600 per flight. However they now have 1 less FA and about 2000lbs or so less in weight. I don't think that FA make $500 for a flight and the weight cannot save all that much but some bean counter must have crunched some numbers and decided that there is a net gain for the airline by removing the row. Maybe its the cynical side of me but I don't think passenger comfort was even in the top 10 for this decision. Passenger comfort is used to put a positive spin on a cost cutting measure. You are going to be going from 1 FA per 39 passengers to 1FA per 50 passengers.

 

[bavaria]

Good point! United keeps Economy Plus because it generates revenue. It keeps elite members loyal, but they offer 'upgrades' from regular Economy seating to E+ to non-elite members, at a cost.

The gate agents and FAs are very strict about not allowing passengers to 'self upgrade' during a flight unless they pay the $$$$.

I think that AA's model failed because they didn't consider the revenue opportunity of adding additional seat pitch.