First Class Advice

These days, when every marketing technique is tried out on focus groups first, the airlines seem to studiously avoid that approach.

My own focus group (relatives, friends and associates) gives a clear indication that the reason its members like to fly first or business class is that the distance between seats is more geared to the physique of American travelers and that they don’t have to climb over two people to go to the toilet.

The slightly fancier meals, free liquor, linen table cloths, porcelain dinnerware and the Godiva chocolate are rated much lower.

If instead of 2 1/2 times the price of economy tickets a more realistic fare were to be charged, and the unnecessary extras eliminated, the net effect, we believe, would be more first-class tickets sold, more profits and a more satisfied clientele.

HEINZ J. PULVERMAN

Los Angeles