Travelhack

Business is business: everything you need to know about onboard services

Let's face it: no matter what advantages are offered in business class, economy was, is and will remain the most popular. In general, the main thing passengers want to know is whether higher classes of service are worth paying extra for. Let's look into it together.
26 july 2018
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6 min

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ECONOM-CLASS

When choosing economy class, you should not expect any additional benefits - especially for free. In fact, for the price of an economy class ticket you get the opportunity to get from point A to point B without any additional services. But there are certain differences that are worth paying attention to.

Economy class flight

1. Luggage

If you have opted for economy class, prepare to travel light: you are usually allowed one piece of hand baggage and sometimes one piece of luggage. The weight and size of both hand luggage and baggage vary from airline to airline.

For example:

  • UIA in economy class - only hand baggage 55*40*20 cm weighing 7 kg, and in addition you can take one small piece of hand baggage with a maximum weight of 5 kg (ladies bag, laptop, etc.).
  • Wizz Air in Economy Class - hand baggage also has dimensions 55*40*23 cm, but the maximum weight allowed is 10 kg.
  • Air France in Economy Class - hand baggage with dimensions 55*35*25 cm can weigh up to 12 kg.
Carriage of luggage on an airplane

* If among the additional benefits you are interested only in the size of luggage, you can buy it without increasing the class of service (compare what is more favorable with the airline of your choice).

2. In-flight comfort

One of the most significant differences in flight is the distance between seats, which depends on the airline and the airplane. The width of a standard economy class seat is 42-46 cm, and the seat spacing is 74-81 cm on regional flights or 75-95 cm on long-haul flights. If you have to fly for several hours, even 5 cm can play a role - not to mention long-haul flights. You can always check the airline's website in advance for information on seat spacing in your case.

Also in-flight meals, service, entertainment on board, availability of travel kits, bedspreads, pillows, and a number of other nuances may differ.

For example, about meals:

  • UIA has only free water on board in economy class;
  • Wizz Air even has to pay for regular water;
  • Air France offers a full meal or snacks (depending on the flight duration) and a choice of drinks (water, juices, coffee, tea, wine) in economy class.

3. Refunding an airline ticket

Economy class airline tickets most often cannot be surrendered or exchanged, even if a penalty is paid.

4. What else do I need to know about economy class?

We have listed the main features of economy class, and now - the most interesting: some airlines have different types of economy class, which differ in price and the number of included services.

For example, UIA offers Premium Economy on long-haul flights (with extra luggage, the possibility to order a separate meal on board - vegetarian, kosher, etc., greater distance between seats, individual travel kit and a number of other advantages).

Air France's Premium Economy Class emphasizes in-flight comfort: comfortable wide seats are separated by partitions, passengers have access to large interactive video screens, noise-reducing headphones, individual lamps and power outlets.

Air France Premium Economy

And in some cases, airlines may have additional options between Economy and Premium Economy, where for a minimal extra charge you get, for example, just a little more legroom.

Economy class may have the following codings:

  • W - premium;
  • S, Y - ordinary economy class (different comfort levels);
  • B, H - discounted (different types of discount);
  • K, L - cheap class (discounted economy class);
  • M - tourist;
  • N, Q, T, X, O - different types of discounts;
  • V - discounted (youth class);
  • G - group (reservation under certain conditions).

BUSINESS CLASS

Business Class passengers enjoy all sorts of benefits - experienced travelers say it's a different quality of travel that is sometimes worth paying for. Whether it's worth it is up to you, especially since it's always considerably more expensive than even premium economy. But let's get to the bottom of it:

1. Priority boarding and business lounge

Business Class passengers have priority boarding, which means that you save time and are among the first to board.

Before boarding, you can spend your waiting time in the business lounge with a varied food and beverage menu. In some airports, the business lounge can be compared to a good restaurant in terms of comfort and assortment.

Business Lounge at Heathrow Airport (London)

After all the delights of the business lounge, you will be transferred to the plane individually - you will not ride in a common bus, but in a separate comfortable mini-bus with seats for all business class passengers.

2. In-flight comfort

The seats for passengers of this class are located in the front of the airplane - here turbulence is least felt, which makes the flight more comfortable even for the most sensitive.

The main advantage is the large distance between the seats, which can range from 80 to 200 cm, depending on the airline and the airplane. If desired, you can recline the backrest, unfold the seat and sleep.

Qatar Airways Business Class
UIA Business Class
Air France Business Class

Also in this class entertainment on board is available and the ability to fully work - there are individual screens, power outlets, sometimes wi-fi, etc.

Meals on board for business class passengers offer a wider choice of food and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. And the food is served in special sets, not in disposable dishes.

It is also worth noting that the crew of the airplane is very attentive to business passengers and everything is aimed at providing them with care and fulfilling any wishes. Special toilet kits, pillows, blankets, games for children - there is a lot of things that may be needed in flight.

3. Luggage

Important personalities who travel in comfort don't need to make do with a minimum of stuff - usually a business class passenger can take a couple of suitcases of luggage, and a couple of hand luggage items.

4. What else do I need to know about business class?

Business class airline tickets can often be turned in or exchanged without paying a penalty.

Business class codes:

  • J - premium;
  • C - regular;
  • D, Z, I - discounted

FIRST-CLASS.

First class is often only available on long-haul flights, and not on all airlines. All you need to know about First Class is that everything here is designed to ensure that you fly at the highest level.

Emirates First Class
Qatar Airways First Class

First Class passengers have all the same benefits as Business Class passengers in terms of luggage, priority boarding, a separate check-in desk, individual transfers, free change of departure date, etc. But at the same time, instead of a seat there is an individual compartment, often in luxury comparable only with 5-star hotels. Designer travel kits, menus prepared by the best restaurateurs, wine list selected by special sommeliers - all these are signs of the first class.

  • R - suite - supersonic (available on Airbus A380 airliners)
  • P - first premium level
  • F - first standard
  • A - first discounted

Tip tripmydream:

If you're thinking about upgrading, ask not only about the specifics of the different classes of your chosen airline, but also about the airplane you'll be flying. Sometimes premium economy can be just as good as business class, and in some cases business is almost as good as first class.

Using our website, tripmydream, you can find airline tickets starting from 15 EUR. Look for the cheapest flights in the Flight Discounts section. To do this, select the departure point, and the service will find the most advantageous offers for you.


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