When planning a trip, booking a flight can sometimes feel like an afterthought, a necessary step after most of the critical travel decisions have already been made, including choosing your destination and dates. Many people are unaware of all the features of different flight classes. Most of us understand that economy is less expensive and has less legroom than business class, but there’s more to flight classes than that.
What Are the Different Flight Classes?
Which class you fly can impact whether you’ll get to choose your seat, your baggage limit, what amenities you’ll receive and whether you can make changes to your reservation. The services offered for each flight class may vary between airlines and the length of your flight, but they are generally standardized across the industry into 5 classes.
Basic Economy
While the seating in basic economy is the same as the other tiers of economy class — and the services, such as snacks, meals and in-flight entertainment (if included), may not differ — the big difference is you don’t have access to other amenities. When flying basic economy, your seat is often automatically assigned, you will likely board last and carry-on and checked baggage is not included (unless it is an international flight). You typically can’t cancel or change your flight for free.
Basic economy, economy and premium economy passengers are typically all seated in the main cabin.
Economy
While similar to basic economy, economy class tickets offer travelers a few more perks and some flexibility. What you get with economy tickets varies between airlines, so it’s essential to read the details before you book. In general, though, economy class offers standard amenities like selecting your seat, storing carry-on luggage in an overhead bin and the ability to make changes to your reservation before departure without a fee.
Premium Economy
Premium economy is a recent addition to flight classes. In addition to the perks of economy, premium economy tends to offer more legroom, wider seats, an amenity kit, upgraded meal service, unlimited beverages and checked baggage.
Business
Business class can differ significantly from the various economy classes, and the amenities can differ widely between airlines. Business and first class tend to be in a different cabin from economy classes (usually the premium cabin on domestic flights or the business class cabin on international flights). These cabins usually come with dedicated restrooms and overhead bin space for business and first-class passengers.
Business class tends to offer things like priority check-in, priority boarding, larger seats with more legroom and lie-flat beds. Customers in business class may also receive a high level of personal service and multicourse meals. Some airlines even offer access to sky clubs or lounges on stopovers for long-distance flights.
First
These days, business and first class tend to offer many similar perks. Some airlines, particularly on domestic flights, might offer only one or the other.
First class can have all the same perks as business class. It may offer more, such as a private suite or room, a bathroom with a shower, more upscale food and more drink options. Like business class, the perks can depend on the airline and whether the flight is international or domestic.
If you’re looking to book your next flight, check out the Citi Travel® site. Citi customers with eligible cards can earn ThankYou® Points on select bookings made through the portal.
Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.
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