Business class

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Business class (also known as club class or executive class) is a high travel class available on some commercial airlines and raillines. The level of accommodation in business class is higher than economy class and lower than first class. Business class passengers have a lavatory reserved for their exclusive use. Recently on airplanes, first and coach passengers were barred from visiting the business class cabin due to newly enforced security regulations. Business class quality, service, and comfort is continually on the rise, with many airlines.

There is a substantial difference between long haul and short/medium haul business class. Short/Medium haul business class seats are not much different to economy class seats and on some airlines may be exactly the same seats with just a curtain to separate business class from the economy class behind. Alternatively airlines (such as Lufthansa) might use convertible seats that seat three people across in economy or adjust with a lever to become two seats with half a seat between them for business class use. Some airlines (such as British Airways) still offer different seats in business class to economy class and these are wider and have more leg room. On airlines offering one kind of seat with a moveable curtain there is often more leg room on the seats towards the front of the plane, economy class passengers sitting in those seats will get to enjoy the extra legroom for free although the change in seat pitch is not marked on aircraft seat plans.

Business class has started to disappear from many short/medium haul routes, to be replaced with full fare economy and discount economy (KLM and SAS). On these routes the seats are the same for all passengers, only the flexibility of the ticket and the catering differs. On shorter routes (typically less than one hour) many airlines have removed business class entirely and offer only one class of service.

Long haul business class seats are substantially different to economy class seats and many airlines have drifted lie flat seats from first class back into business class. Even airlines that do not offer lie flat business class seats offer substantially more leg room in long haul business class compared to the economy section. The appearance of lie-flat seats in business class has made it increasingly difficult for many passengers to justify, either to their employers or themselves, the added expense of a first class fare. Consequently, many airlines (such as Malaysia Airlines on their Boeing 777s, and Air New Zealand on all aircraft) have removed their first class products from some or all flights, and made business class their most premium offering.

Business class is not common on North America flights (except for certain trans continental routes) and North American first class can be thought of as being the equivalent of European business class.

Business class

See also