SKYCLUB TRAVEL BLOG

What is the difference between business class and economy class in flight?

It can get confusing, especially as many airlines choose to call their classes names like Premium, Economy Plus and even ‘Mint’. But there’s a fundamental difference between business class and economy class that is always evident. Business class travel is aimed at the working traveller – it’s designed to make executive life flow smoothly and everything is geared to the business, not the individual. What does that look like in practice? Well, let’s get specific:

Business class travel – the in-flight lowdown

• Business class seats offer both extra legroom and wider seats than economy class; more room to spread out papers or get your laptop out and work
• While seats are still generally in rows, like economy class travel, they are generally partly partitioned to allow for confidentiality of both documents and calls, and while there’s always scope to recline seats and some long haul flights offer lie flats, it’s about working, not about relaxing
• Flight kits are different too; in business class they will often be gender specific, with men’s kits containing razors and aftershave, women’s containing perfume and serum – usually from highly respected brands. But there’s also a business flight focus with earplugs and eye masks to help travellers rest and sometimes great stationery and pens for immigration cards or other in flight business needs.
• Business class flights really differ when it comes to food – we all know what is (or isn’t) on offer for an economy class traveller but in business class there’s an array of gourmet meals, often with good china and glassware and a limited but carefully thought out menu of wines and cocktails.

So the differences between business class and economy class in flight are many – and by searching online for the best business class flights, you may find you can enjoy the business experience at an economy price!