I found that airlines generally use less premium configurations in their Airbus planes compared to their Boeing ones. In other words I think Airbus have less F and J seats but more Y seats, compared to Boeing planes of similar sizes. For example, CX A350-1000 has 46J/32W/256Y whereas 77W has 6F/53J/34W/182Y. I also notice that other airlines tend to put their premium configs on Boeing as well. Is there anything inherently less premium on Airbus planes?

CX flies multiple 777-300ER configurations, including two J/W/Y versions at 40J / 32W / 268Y and 40J / 32W / 296Y.

You also need to look at the models and the routes they fly. If an airline is flying A330-300s on regional missions, premium cabin demand will generally be less so the Economy cabin will be larger compared to a 777-200ER or 787-9 flying long-haul missions.

shouldn't be as -900ULR is either PE or J for SQ
If you compare A359 and B78J at SQ and you'll find A359 is more premium heavy
depends on each airlines' planning

Given that the most opulent premium cabins are all on A380s, I think the whole premise of this thread is flawed. What is undisputed is that the larger the plane, the bigger the premium component. This is typically a function of the typical stage length these larger planes fly and the availability of real estate upon which to install these expensive and heavy cabins.

In summary an A380 will typically have more premium seating than a 77W which will have more premium seating than an A350, 77E or 787 and they will have more than an A321 or 739.

tullamarine wrote:

Given that the most opulent premium cabins are all on A380s, I think the whole premise of this thread is flawed. What is undisputed is that the larger the plane, the bigger the premium component. This is typically a function of the typical stage length these larger planes fly and the availability of real estate upon which to install these expensive and heavy cabins.

In summary an A380 will typically have more premium seating than a 77W which will have more premium seating than an A350, 77E or 787 and they will have more than an A321 or 739.

But if you look at the percentage of premium cabin seats over total seats, you will see A380 is much less premium than a long-range configured 77W.

A380 have the most premium cabins. Currently there are many more 777 and 787 in service then A350. A330 or A340 flying equivalent long haul routes. Many airlines will be flying both A350 and 777 or 787 with similar products branded for their airline. Currently many 777 & 787-9 flying longer haul routes so there is an impression 777 & 787-9 have plusher cabins. At airlines like BA, Singapore, Cathay, Air France 787 and A350 will be flying together soon with the same Business Class seats. Some airline will have A350-1000 and 787 plus others 777-300ER and A350-900 so things should equal out.

tullamarine wrote:

Given that the most opulent premium cabins are all on A380s, I think the whole premise of this thread is flawed. What is undisputed is that the larger the plane, the bigger the premium component. This is typically a function of the typical stage length these larger planes fly and the availability of real estate upon which to install these expensive and heavy cabins.

In summary an A380 will typically have more premium seating than a 77W which will have more premium seating than an A350, 77E or 787 and they will have more than an A321 or 739.

And there are domestic configured 777 aircraft. Along with most 777-300ER aircraft having 3-4-3 seating that is quite narrow.

tullamarine wrote:

I think the whole premise of this thread is flawed

Indeed.

The manufacturer is not the one who sets premium or economy fractions, it is the airline.

There are some other factors of course that affect how much premium you will see. The shorter the flight, less premium class the passengers, and consequently, airline wants.

The smaller the plane, the less possibilities there are for premium setups; in small commuter/prop planes there's typically none, at least in Europe. In the A320s and A737s there's room for better seats but not much more, and often there isn't even any different seats but just some of them are left empty on purpose. On wide-body long haul planes you have a lot of demand and need for services beyond tourist class. And the "Etihad Apartment" type arrangements are only possible on the largest of the large planes. And so on.

The market affects things of course as well. I find premium classes widely provided in the US, and there the frequent flier seems to expect extra service, a free upgrade on their most flights. Whereas in Europe... that is much less common. Perhaps sadly, but that's the case. Now, at the same time there's probably still more Boeing planes in US than Airbus planes (or has that now changed? The direction is clear but I'm not sure we're there yet). So if you measured US and and Europe, you'd probably find "more premium on Boeing planes", but that is not because of who manufactured planes, it is due to what kind of service market expects and the prevalence of particular plane types for other reasons.

Similarly, the Middle East and Asia seems like being extremely focused on super fine services, airlines competing on how good their first class or class beyond first are. In that area you'll find that there's plenty of premium in their airplanes.

Finally, the percentages... how many percent premium, how many not? Those are not set by plane type or manufacturer. They are set by what the airline determines is the best split from an income and demand perspective. There might be some small factors relating to how easy it is to subdivision a particular plane type into different cabins, but that doesn't seem to be a big problem. You can't necessarily do this at the granularity of a row, but you will be able to do it at the granularity of a door and/or galley placement.

Just to give a more pointed counter-example to the OP's experiences, *my* experience is that the best premium cabins are on Airbus planes and almost none of the Boeing planes that I fly have premium at all. But this is only because I happen to fly an Airbus-operator for most of my long haul flights, and happen to fly a low-cost airline with 737s for many of my shorter haul trips. Obviously, my experience is skewed, but for my defence I realise that ...

Take a look at AA's 321T and then AA's 737 MAX, and tell me that that doesn't blow your theory out of the water.

moyangmm wrote:

I found that airlines generally use less premium configurations in their Airbus planes compared to their Boeing ones. In other words I think Airbus have less F and J seats but more Y seats, compared to Boeing planes of similar sizes. For example, CX A350-1000 has 46J/32W/256Y whereas 77W has 6F/53J/34W/182Y. I also notice that other airlines tend to put their premium configs on Boeing as well. Is there anything inherently less premium on Airbus planes?

Facts...not feelings is the key word here.