Would you like to go to the lounge before slipping into your seat in business class? Do you like to drink only vintage champagne? Do you prefer a seat with a window? All these advantages will increasingly be offered as options in business class. A business class with drawers, as it were. Emirates has been experimenting with it since last June. And this strategy is gaining new followers.
At the time, the Dubai-based company launched a fare of "Business Special. It excluded a chauffeur service, free access to the lounge and the possibility of upgrading to first class..
Qatar Airways has now revised its business class offer with the introduction of three new fares. These new fares are largely based on the existing economy class fares.
Three business fares with Qatar Airways
Qatar is now offering Classic", "Comfort" business class rates and "Elite. The first includes two pieces of hold baggage and one piece of cabin baggage, while the second adds the option of "seat selection on booking" and access to the lounge. The third offers free ticket cancellation and a higher number of miles on the QMiles frequent flyer programme. For a Paris-Doha flight scheduled for February 1, the Classic fare is €2,227.50, the Comfort fare €2,442.50 and the Elite fare €2,789.50.
However, Oneworld members at Sapphire or Emerald level will continue to enjoy free access to the lounge.
Lufthansa could be the next to adopt a à la carte pricing strategy. It would nevertheless differ from those of Emirates and Qatar Airways. The German carrier indicates that this possible new pricing system in business class would be implemented with the arrival of Emirates. delivery of its new Boeing 777-9s.
The latter will offer certain seats with a greater degree of privacy, such as total isolation from the rest of the cabin. Or a wider sleeper bed. But more than just a product with drawers, Lufthansa sees in this new offer a premium value-added offer. The company has announced the integration of the new 777 in April 2021 departing from Frankfurt.
If business passengers accept this optional business class, it will certainly be emulated by other airlines.
