JAL to introduce premium economy class on Narita-Bangkok flight

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced today that they will introduce the popular Premium Economy service on Tokyo Narita (NRT) - Bangkok (BKK) route on JL717 and JL718 from January 16 2011. Reservation and ticketing starts on November 5 2010. JAL has been using the longhaul configured 772 on this route for a while and giving PY away to elites. It's about time they roll this out on BKK and have people pay for the seat! Right now another route that is operating with a longhaul 772 is HND-HKG and during winter time, it's a 5 hour flight from HND to HKG, will JAL roll out this this route as well? I say why not? Worst case, you op-up the people and not give them the PY service.

Source: JAL Press Release (Japanese, English)