Whether you're curious or just want to know about air travel classes before you buy your tickets, this article will explain the basic differences between the four classes you'll usually encounter on long-haul flights.

It's more than clear that there are differences even within a single travel class across airlines, so I haven't gone into too much detail and really highlighted what makes the categories different.

At the same time, I'm also providing a price horizon within which to expect the price of tickets in a given class of travel, which serves only as a springboard for pricing on other routes, as the specific amounts can vary radically.

Economy class (Y)

This class of travel probably needs little introduction - we've all flown in it. It's a complete staple, representing a seat and a trip from A to B these days.

On long-haul flights, we still see free in-flight refreshments, often consisting of a hot meal, salad and dessert.

Prices in economy class often fluctuate much more than in premium classes - often depending on the availability of the flight. And because economy class has the largest number of seats, airlines often offer special low fares when tickets go on sale, which is not often the case in business or first class.

Economy class is generally referred to as"Y" (and its various variations, such as Q, V, H, etc.).

• ✅ Lowest price
• ✅ Highest availability (economy class always has the most seats)
• ❌ Least comfort on the plane
• ❌ No added services at the airport
• ❌ Fewest frequent flyer miles (often none at all)

Premium Economy Class (Y+)

Premium economy class is a sort of intermediate level between economy and business. Not all airlines offer it, but where it is available it can be a very interesting compromise between price and comfort.

Compared to regular economy class, it offers:

• ✅ Significantly more legroom
• ✅ Wider and more comfortable seats
• ✅ Sometimes even better catering
• ✅ Higher baggage allowance
• ❌ Higher price
• ❌ Often the same number of frequent flyer miles as economy class
• ❌ No added services at the airport

More modern premium economy cabins not only have more legroom, but the seat reclines to a greater angle than in a regular economy cabin and sometimes even fewer seats side by side, meaning more width.

The price of premium economy class is usually 35% to 60% higher than standard economy class.

Premium economy class is generally referred to as"Y+".

Have you ever travelled in premium economy class and do you think it is worthwhile?

Business Class (C)

If you've ever flown on a wide-body aircraft on a long-haul flight, you've probably passed through a cabin designated for business passengers when boarding or disembarking.

In business class, we're talking about a completely different comfort and travel experience, with the following services:

• ✅ Priority check-in at the airport and priority passage through security
• ✅ Access to airport lounges
• ✅ Priority boarding
• ✅ Spacious seats, often fully reclining and transformable into a bed
• ✅ Welcome drink
• ✅ Excellent catering (starter, soup, main course, dessert)
• ✅ Alcoholic beverages during the flight
• ✅ Priority deplaning
• ✅ Priority passage through customs (only at some airports)
• ✅ Priority unloading of baggage
• ✅ Many more frequent flyer miles
• ✅ Often more flexibility to change or cancel tickets
• ❌ High price

The list of bonuses is certainly interesting, but the real reason you should ever be interested in flying business class is that after a long and tiring flight, you'll walk off the plane beautifully rested and ready for new adventures. You don't have to fall asleep sitting up with a sore back, just sleep soundly in bed.

Business class fares are generally 4-6 times higher than regular economy class fares.

We consider it a great deal if the business class fare is no more than 2x the normal economy class fare.

Above we describe the advantages of business class on long-haul flights. However, beware on shorter flights, where often (especially in Europe) the distinction between business and economy class in terms of seat space is completely blurred. Many airlines have exactly the same seats in economy and business class on smaller planes, with the only difference being that the seat next to you in business class always remains unoccupied.

Tips on our business class reviews:

• ✈️ Lufthansa Allegris on Airbus A350 (MUC-EWR) - long-haul flight
• ✈️ Aegean Airlines in Airbus A321neo (ATH-PRG) - regional flight in Europe
• ✈️ Condor Prime Seat in Airbus A330neo (JNB-FRA) - long-haul flight

First Class (F)

Literally luxury in the clouds for the most demanding clientele, a First Class flight delivers. Guaranteed comfort and convenience combine with privacy and tailored service.

First Class is only offered by a few companies due to the demanding nature of the service and is considered a golden era in aviation.

In first class you can enjoy, for example, private airport lounges for first class passengers only. Unlike traditional lounges, you won't find a lavish buffet here, but the chef will prepare a fresh dish from the menu on request. Most of these lounges also offer complimentary massages or rooms to relax in between longer connections. There are, of course, showers, which are also available in most of the better business lounges.

In-flight meals are served when you specify. If you're not exactly hungry, that's fine and tell the crew when to wake you up and prepare your meal. There's no shortage of in-flight caviar, or premium wines and champagne.

The seat can be likened to a smaller hotel room, offering a screen for complete privacy when needed. But not always. The differences between first classes are enormous.

In the best first class products you can expect:

• ✅ Separate check-in and priority passage through security (some airlines even have their own terminals - for example, Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt)
• ✅ Access to First Class lounges (even better than Business Class)
• ✅ You get on the plane first
• ✅ Spacious seats always reclining into a bed, the best airlines have their own suites with doors/screens
• ✅ Welcome drink
• ✅ Excellent a la carte catering (starter, soup, main course, dessert)
• ✅ Alcoholic beverages during the flight
• ✅ Priority deplaning
• ✅ Priority passage through customs (only at some airports)
• ✅ Priority unloading of baggage
• ✅ Most frequent flyer miles
• ✅ Often more flexibility to change or cancel tickets
• ❌ Very high price
• ❌ Not all airlines offer first class

The best first classes give you a feeling of absolute privacy, whereas first classes on other airlines often just look like better business classes.

However, this luxury is matched by the price.

The best first classes, such as those offered by Air France, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Lufthansa, are usually 15-25 times more expensive than economy class.

For inferior first classes (such as Kuwait Airways, Air China, etc.), prices are 8-10 times higher than economy class.

Conclusion

You should now have a basic idea of what happens in the front cabin during a curtained flight and know the difference between economy, business and first class.

There aren't a lot of premium cabin deals, so when there are, don't hesitate to treat yourself to an unusual experience!