Business class is a travel class available on many commercial airlines and rail lines, known by brand names which vary by airline or rail company. In the airline industry, it was originally intended as an intermediate level of service between economy class and first class, but many airlines now offer business class as the highest level of service.[1] Business class is distinguished from other travel classes by the quality of seating, food, drinks, ground service and other amenities.
Contents |
Airlines began separating full-fare and discounted economy class passengers in the late 1970s. In 1976, KLM introduced a Full Fare Facilities (FFF) service for its full fare economy class passengers, which allowed them to sit at the front of the economy cabin immediately behind first class, and this concept was quickly copied by several other airlines including Air Canada.[2] Both United Airlines and Trans World Airlines experimented with a similar three-class concept in 1978, but abandoned it due to negative reactions from discount economy class travelers who felt that amenities were being taken away from them.[3] United also cited the difficulty of tracking which passengers should be seated in which section of the economy cabin on connecting flights.[4] American Airlines also began separating full-fare economy passengers from discounted economy passengers in 1978, and offered open middle seats for full-fare passengers.[5]
Around this time, there was speculation in the airline industry that supersonic aircraft would corner the market for the highest-paying premium passengers, and that a three-class market would emerge consisting of supersonic first class and subsonic business and economy classes.[2] In 1977, El Al announced plans to reconfigure its aircraft with a small first class cabin and larger business class cabin on the assumption that most transatlantic first-class passengers would shift their business to the Concorde.[6]
British Airways introduced "Club Class," a separate premium cabin with numerous amenities, in October 1978 under CEO Colin Marshall as a means of further distinguishing full-fare business travelers from tourists flying on discounted fares.[7] Pan Am announced that it would introduce "Clipper Class" in July 1978,[8] and both Air France and Pan Am introduced business class in November 1978.[9] Qantas claims to have launched the world's first Business Class in 1979.[10]
On November 1, 1981, Scandinavian Airlines System introduced EuroClass with a separate cabin, dedicated check-in counters and lounges for full-fare passengers. Simultaneously, first class disappeared from their European fleet.
Air Canada calls its domestic business class product "executive class", which evolved from a premium economy "Connoisseur Class" that was available for full fare paying economy passengers, essentially a guarantee of a vacant adjacent seat if possible and free alcohol service. Domestic First on Air Canada, available only on wide bodies, ceased to exist from 1992 as did International First, replaced by a somewhat diminished "Executive First" class. In the United States, business class is usually only offered on intercontinental and long-haul flights, including certain transcontinental flights. US carriers generally designate "first class" as the premium product on domestic two-cabin aircraft.
On the other hand, the airlines of Europe and much of the rest of the world brand the premium product on shorthaul two-cabin aircraft as "business class". European carriers generally offer a "business class" consisting of enhanced economy seating with better service. There may be a curtain to separate business from economy class, based on demand, but the seats are in the same cabin. Some airlines such as Lufthansa and British Airways use convertible seats that seat three people across in economy, or adjust with a lever to become two seats with a half seat length between them for business class use.
Business class has started to disappear from some short/medium haul routes, to be replaced with full fare economy and discount economy (KLM and SAS). On these routes, the seats are the same for all passengers, only the flexibility of the ticket and the food and beverage service differs. On shorter routes (typically less than one hour) many airlines have removed business class entirely (e.g. BMI on many routes) and offer only one class of service.
Most low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair in Europe and JetBlue in the United States, do not offer any premium classes of service. Although Jetblue, respectively, does offer a premium seating section for about $45 more for extra legroom, better seat pitch and priority boarding on most (if not all) of their flights. AirAsia charges a premium for passengers to sit in front of the aircraft or the exit seats which also offer more legroom as well as board first (such seats are called "Hot Seats").
Long haul business class seats are substantially different from economy class seats and many airlines have installed "lie flat" seats into business class, whereas previously seats with such a recline were only available in international first class. There are essentially three types of long haul business class seats today. These are listed in ascending order of perceived "quality".
As with first class, all alcoholic beverages are complimentary and meals are of higher quality than economy class. Economy class passengers are usually not permitted in the business class cabin though First class passengers are generally allowed to cross the curtain between Business and First class.
The exact name for business class may vary between operators. Bold text indicates the airline class is a combination of first and business class.
On Amtrak in the United States, "business class" is the premium class of service on medium-haul trains, such as most Northeast Corridor trains and the Pacific Surfliner, and the main class of service on Acela Express. "First class" is the premium class of service on Acela Express and is also the designation for bedroom accommodations on sleeper trains.
Until June 2009, Via Rail in Canada premium class service was called "Via 1", on short range routes oriented towards business travel. The premium service on the transcontinental route (The Canadian) is called "Silver & Blue". In June 2009, "Via 1" was re-named "Business Class" and "Silver & Blue" (The Canadian) and "Easterly" (The Ocean) were re-named "Sleeper Touring Class" and "Totem" (The Skeena) was re-named "Touring Class".
In France, "business class" is a premium service of chauffeured limousine.[14]