介绍:
LW: And traveling might be getting a little cheaper than you might think, or possibly, than you might like. Wu You, can you enlighten us a little bit?
WY: So you’ve all heard about the first class on the plane, [LW: First class? Yeah, that’s the goal] first class [LW: Dream, dream], and now here is last class.
LW: What?
WY: So now a new class of service has come to an aircraft. It’s the “basic economy”. It’s also dubbed by consumer advocates “economy-minus” or “last class”. It is really competitive on price with ultra-low cost carriers. And it has cut all possible services in order to satisfy bargain-hungry passengers and boost profits. Other legacy carriers in the United States, like American Airlines or United Airlines, say they are on the verge of introducing their own versions of basic economy fare.
LW: Alright, so it’s getting a little bit easier, a little bit cheaper possibly, but let’s not say easier just yet, [WY: Just cheaper] it’s just cheaper to travel. It’s being introduced by, possibly by Delta Airlines, which is a [WY: Yes it is]. But let’s start with what we do have, Wu You.
WY: Let’s do a comparison, yeah. So the normal economy class, as we all know, is all with the services like this: at least 30 inches of space between them, a rough measure of legroom, and the ability to change a reservation after paying a fee, and also the option to upgrade a better seat, and also free snacks, and one free carry-on, and also I believe there are some certain kind of entertainment services, like little [LW: Yeah, you can play some video games] some right in front of you, so [LW: Or watch some series], yes. With the basic economic class, some of this, of course, will be lost. Let’s see. So first of all, the industry’s smallest airline seats between 28 inches and 30 inches of that pitch.
LW: 28 to 30 inches [WY: smaller seat], right. Next one, Wu You.
WY: No itinerary changes or refunds.
LW: Now that’s a tough one, and if you book sometimes on certain websites or use certain websites, also that is a thing that happens as well. But, especially if you have to do things last minute, that could be a bit of a problem.
WY: Yes it is. And also, no free carry-on bag.
LW: Now this is absolutely ridiculous. This is one thing that I think would be really difficult [WY: But if you want a cheaper price] to manage, yeah. But I don’t understand that – what space, how much money are you saving denying people carry-on bags, where do you –
BK: Fuel. It does save fuel costs, and it will provide more room so that other people can take that,. So they can charge other people for a second bag.
WY: But that was the room above your head.
LW: That’s what [BK: It is.] I’m trying – no one’s sitting on the roof, that’s what I don’t understand…
BK: No, no, no, no. It’s – so, again, it’s the fuel, because that weight, that adds up, just like, you know, if you save one dollar here, you save one liter of fuel, that adds up over time…
WY: I really want to say you save one dollar here, and then you go to the dollar store, and then you can buy something else.
LW: Yes, you can buy a new bag.
WY: Okay, really.
BK: Yeah, right, right.
WY: And next one, no meals, no snacks, sodas and no entertainment.
LW: That’s a tough one. That is [WY: That’s the tough one] a difficult – you don’t think so, Brian.
BK: No. I mean, again, if you want just the very basic stuff, especially if it’s not a long flight, then yeah, I mean it – pretty much, you should be packing, if you want food or drink, you should be packing some already. It is good to have it, I do appreciate that, but can’t expect too much these days anyway, well, in the US…
LW: ‘Cause I know, if you take Beijing to Shanghai, there’s no entertainment on that flight. You have to sit there, and look at the seat in front of you.
BK: Right.
WY: The last point is that no advance seat assignments. I don’t think that really matters.
BK: At this point, it really wouldn’t, because –
LW: If you’ve read the previous four points and you’ve [BK: No] decided, this is not going to be the one [BK: True, true] that makes you go off the bus.
WY: And also I need to say that it’s just pay more for more, and this time, for this minus class, it’s pay less for less.
LW: That’s a good point there, Wu You, and I don’t really – I don’t think if you ever take one of these you have much to complain about. But, yeah, there’s to note – contact Wu You for your travel arrangements.
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