more leg and body room is the main reason. You can also check 2 bags, sometimes 3. The contractors that supply the food are much much better in the last 10 years. I have not flown coach/economy in over 15 years, A ticket to Bangkok next month is 6500.00 and that's business class not 1st class.
Plus premium services, checkin, security, lounges, a quiet cabin, bathrooms.
On WJ Boeing 737-700 there are 12 Premium wider seats with more pitch forward, sharing one bathroom with the pilots.
118 standard seats in Economy sharing one bathroom aft in calculated discomfort, with long line up's
Even on a four hour flight YYZ-POP, less than a pleasure, food and drink charge.
Standard check in, no luggage or pay for one suit case.
On long flights to Asia for me business class is a minimum requirement.
Of course one could fly LH direct to FRA Non Stop have a pleasant few day's stay and continue on Thai airways Non Stop to BKK.
From the West coast long flights are a torture, best option with a lay over In Tokyo, or Hong Kong.
EU flights to DR are also Long enough in duration with stops, depending if lying from Germany os Spain.
Non stop from EU to POP is best if one can find one, to enjoy future luxury POP hotels when they are completed.
It will take a while, but if becoming reality more EU flight options and tourism may be the result.
One can still see quite a few Russians in Punta Cana.
Also in Infinity Blu and Sosua Ocean Village.