Difference between First Class and Business Class – How Things Work

Together from both the Business and First class, the airline makes a whopping $ 550034 which means a little less than half of the total lot helps make as much as 85% of the total revenue sales.

To add a feather to this, flying long distance, non-stop, to premium destinations to high income and high demand cities like above, the prices of tickets sold are almost double and there is no dearth of passengers to lap up the premium seats. So here is the most important reason why airline put all their gimmicks in selling these tickets first.

To clear some confusion first:

Amidst all the confusion between flying first class and business class, frequent flyers struggle hard to haggle for that last-minute deals and upgrades and airlines play it smart by blowing the lines between classes.  There are no stringent industry standards and airlines are really going really creative and fitting in classes within classes. Some call it the premium class, take for example Delta airlines recently changed the name of their premium class as Delta One instead of the Business Elite because they don’t want to call it First class and sell tickets in corporate deals as Business class.

Airlines do it cleverly. First-class sold at business class, business seats at first class depending on many marginal factors like timing when airlines are really desperate to fill seats.

The question is – Why Pay for First class flight seat when there is a bus class available for$ 600 less?

After all, it’s the same seat! United Airlines is offering 4 different prices for First class seats using 2 of their business class prices. So you see Two Prices – A First-class price and a Business class price for similar seats, but there aren’t any Business classes. Even the travel agents and their booking system get it wrong at times.

And guess what? The price too is $ 600 cheaper, plain and simple – if you book it as business class, you get a first-class seat at a cheaper price.

So where does the difference lies exactly?

Here’s what scores the points when you fly First Class.

The difference in the width and the pitch of the seat:

Before you blow your money or squander your valuable points the key is to focus on the seat specification. Pay attention to the plane and go with the latest one like the new A380s vs A6-EBU. Look for factors like whether it is a home-based carrier, a particular plane; rather than purely going by the class label. The crux is to look at the seat map and identify if there is a lot more space available for what you are paying for in the first class.

The difference is that you are getting a fully reclinable seat that can be turned into a flat-bed 7 ft long with extra width and the comfort of the sleep you get on them can rival the sleep you get at home  VS the semi-reclining seat that goes back just about 5-6 inches and consumes half the space of what is covered by a flat-bed of a first-class.

Bigger better spaces:

In business class, there is ample legroom and space around. Much neater seats, everything nice arranged, reading light and a variety of ports, your own mini-bar with complimentary drinks, big IFE screen.

But first-class seats are far more comfortable and spacious, it’s pure luxury to render an awesome experience. There are big storage spaces with a neatly arranged personal kit and a line of designer care products in them.

Singapore Airline offers a double bed in the sky and was the first one to do so whereas Etihad Airways has a 3-room suite that gives more private space in living room and bathroom, and provides a bedroom with double bed – the airliner facilitates its passengers with taking a shower at 30,000 feet up in the sky.

Privacy and exclusivity:

This is among the topmost factor that differentiates the First class from a Business class.  It is a top priority in every first-class. You can shut off completely in your private chamber space by closing the auto sliding door and sink into pure luxury. First-class provides passengers with amenities like a writing kit, storage with a range of beauty products, and a mirror. It is also stocked with branded perfume and cologne, lip balms, face gels all in an impressive bag. Passengers flying overnight get silk pajamas and a duvet.

A large bowl of snacks full of hand-baked cookies and munchy seeds and the best dark chocolates. Auto opening mini bar, a much larger sliding tray that is nicely tucked in and concealed, a large private bathroom with a fountain, and a range of body hygiene products; they have thought of it all already!

The Ground experience:

First-class have nearly 35% more seating space and definitely bigger and better fully reclinable seats.

Talk about the amenities, large private spaces, dedicated attendants can put amenities provided in a business class to shame.

With first-class one gets a highly personalized ground experience, separate channels for check-ins with hardly any wait time, be driven right up to the plane in a Porsche or a Merc, complementary spas. However, the business class ground experience is not that personalized.

Designer lounges:

There are far more attendants to cater to individual needs than there are in the business class. Lounges are designer and significantly more exclusive. Many airlines have exclusive lounges for first-class passengers where they are seated privately by a waitress who would offer an additional full menu comprising of options that aren’t available at the buffet.

Home base airlines generally have an advantage because over there you get the best of experiences in bigger better lounges. Lounges in Asia are supposedly the best followed by the ones in Europe.

Food: Lavish Multi-course menu

Airlines strive hard to give the best of fine dining in a First class. Amidst an intensely competitive market, food and drink is a major segment in which airlines try to play well and stand apart from the rest. Food in first class is prepared under the guidance of accomplished master chefs. However, business class food is more restaurant-like, not inclined to give a very classy experience.

First-class have a multi-course menu designed by celebrity chefs, renowned sommeliers select best of wines.  Enjoy a Dom Perignon 2004 – with caviar or Laurent Perrier or Krug even before the flight takes off, dine in some of the best chick restaurants while waiting at the lounge as well while flying First class.

Excess:

There are many other perks of flying with the first-class like double baggage allowance with high priority checks with a whole bunch of extra miles points and status points you can earn flying first class.

Having said all that, all this pampering comes at a price. Seat in first class will definitely cost more,  approximately thrice as much as that of a business class, and may go to as much as 5 times the price of a business class ticket when you choose to fly non-stop with a choice of private pods or suite.

Revenue and Economy of scale:

Airlines struggle hard to cut costs to allow more and more passengers to fly. It is a fascinating example of sound economics. These airlines have figured out ways to sell the same product to different people at different prices. The end product is, after all, covering the distance but what differs is the experience you get along with it inside as well as outside.

Then there are classes within classes. Out of dozens of airlines flying Trans Atlantic, only 6 have 1st class. The intense competition has compelled many airlines to optimize that business class seat.

Slowly, first class is fading away as they take about 8 times more space than economy class and 3.5 times more space than business class. The price difference is also significantly high; a business class can go up to 6 times that of an economy and first-class can go up to 12-13 times as high. It’s hard for airlines to sell first-class due to playing on factors like exclusivity and experience. It’s also much costlier for airlines to maintain the first-class and therefore they are rooming in more business class and replacing it with the first class.

For those who want to enjoy the lavish experience and luxuries of flying business class, First class is the way to travel, and these days there are ways to secure the best ticket deals on first-class tickets. We have covered it in a separate article.