In the old days, air travel was a luxurious affair, no matter which class a passenger chose. While economy class seats no longer offer the style of the bygone days of commercial aviation, and premium economy only offers a small step up from that, passengers can still enjoy luxury in the upper classes, specifically business class and first class.
First class used to be similar to what business class seats are like today, with wide seats that recline further, additional meal service choices, extra storage, and improved amenities. However, over time, first class has become even more luxurious, with enhanced comfort and privacy within an individual cubicle, with much larger screens and lie-flat, cushy seats. This article takes a look at what first-class cabin seats have to offer compared with business-class seats, investigating which one is a better value for money.
Pros And Cons Of First And Business Classes
Purchasing a first class or business class ticket can net the customer a varied range of benefits, which will vary wildly depending on which airline and destination are chosen, with the largest differences between international and domestic flights. Katy Nastro, travel expert and spokesperson at Going, quoted in a Travel and Leisure piece, explains:
“You often see domestic first class offered as the forward cabin, yet there are no lie-flat seats. Alternatively, on many international carriers, you see business class featuring lie-flat seats with perks like lounge access.”
However, there are some things that are fairly standard for each of these two classes across airlines, at least in the US. Below is a list of pros and cons between business class, domestic first class, and international first class, illustrating the differences in the level of service and amenities in each:
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Pros and Cons of US Business and First Classes |
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Business Class |
Domestic First Class |
International First Class |
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|
Pros |
Priority check-in and boarding |
Priority check-in and boarding |
Priority check-in and boarding |
|
Plated meal service (depending on the route) |
Plated meal service (depending on the route) |
Upscale dining |
|
|
Enhanced privacy |
Complimentary drinks, including alcoholic beverages |
First class-only lounges at some airports; general lounge access at others |
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Extra baggage allowance |
Extra baggage allowance |
Extra baggage allowance |
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|
Typically, lie-flat or angled seats with more legroom |
More spacious and comfortable seats |
More privacy in the most luxurious seats |
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|
Amenity kits |
Not as expensive as international business or first class |
Amenity kits |
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|
Cons |
Seats, amenities, and services vary significantly by airline, aircraft, and route |
Typically, no lie-flat seats |
Only available on certain airlines and aircraft |
|
Usually much more expensive than flying in economy |
Lounge access is not guaranteed |
Typically, the most expensive option |
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|
Limited seat availability |
Usually not significantly different than flying in premium economy |
– |
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|
Lounge access is not guaranteed |
– |
– |
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As seen above, business class seats can be more luxurious than domestic first-class seats in terms of amenities offered, but there is the caveat that there is more variance between routes, so that level of luxury is not consistent across the board. Additonally, there is high demand for business class seats, so tickets may be harder to obtain for the late buyer. As Nastro explains, the business class segment of the passenger aviation market is growing fast:
“While first class has always been touted as the ultimate luxury in flying, business classes have become more desirable for both airlines and passengers. Legacy carriers like Delta, United, and American have opted to increase their business-class seating arrangements versus first due to the increased willingness of travelers to spend on this category.”
More Detail On Class Benefits
Starting with business class seats, they tend to be a large step above economy for international flights. According to luxury travel advisor Kimberly Denison, the class can offer many comfort-enhancing additions, such as lie-flat seats, extra space, and amenities, making travel more comfortable. Additional perks outside of the cabin can include lounge access, priority boarding, and expedited security or check-in. Dining options are also a cut above economy, with menus curated by renowned chefs or mixologists as standard.
For domestic and short-haul flights, first-class offerings vary, with lie-flat seats typically only being offered on longer routes of this type, but it will typically be a much more comfortable, spacious seat, offering more legroom than economy. Complimentary alcoholic beverages and better food options are standard, as are priority check-in services, but food options may not be to the level of international first class.
Aside from flying via a privately chartered plane, international first class is the most luxurious aviation experience out there. Top international airlines, such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Air France, offer great comfort and exclusivity in all premium classes, and their first-class experience is on another level. Perks often include private lounges, chauffeur-driven private cars to and from the aircraft, and dedicated jet bridges. Onboard, suites are spacious, offering increased privacy, hotel-quality bedding, and even pajamas, including luxury amenity kits featuring high-end brand items.
How Much Do The Classes Cost?
When booking a premium cabin or seat, consideration should be made as to whether the increase in comfort, perks, and amenities is worth the added cost, which can be quite substantial. Savvy buyers can get a good deal by timing their purchase right, either snapping up unbought premium seats at the last minute or booking well in advance. KAYAK analyzed recent data around the average cost of Business and First Class airfare, showing the average prices by class below:
|
Cabin class |
Flight type |
Cheapest month |
Average price |
Most expensive month |
Average price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Business Class |
Domestic |
August |
$1,627 |
October |
$1,865 |
|
Business Class |
International |
August |
$3,360 |
December |
$4,551 |
|
First Class |
Domestic |
August |
$757 |
February |
$901 |
|
First Class |
International |
August |
$3,363 |
October |
$4,863 |
There are also ways for passengers to upgrade their seat class, but this should not be relied upon if getting a premium seat is a must, as inventory is limited and waiting too long may mean missing out. According to Denison, speaking to Travel and Leisure: “I often recommend that my clients monitor the airline app for available upgrades leading up to their departure.” When looking to pay for an upgrade, the process varies from airline to airline, but there are many opportunities to upgrade for a discounted price, even at check-in.
International carriers often give customers the option to bid against other customers on the plane for upgraded seats in a similar manner to an online eBay auction. Customers with elite status with an airline loyalty program can also get upgraded for free from time to time, but as there are more loyalty members than ever before, competition for these types of perks has become fierce, and free upgrades are increasingly rare.
Which Do Passengers Recommend?
As it turns out, many passengers found the added cost for either of the premium classes was too much to justify, according to a conversation on a Reddit thread, included below. That said, the thread was focused on a once-in-a-lifetime long-haul dream trip from London to Japan being planned by a customer who does not fly particularly often. As one person pointed out, with time to accumulate points before the trip, loyalty cards are a cheaper way to obtain a premium seat:
“Have you looked at airline miles/credit card points? If cash money is a stretch, that would get you there quicker, […] Research who has the best redemption rates for business class on that route, and make a plan to accumulate miles towards that goal via sign up bonuses for credit cards (if you are responsible with this). You can get tens of thousands of dollars of value this way.”
For a tourism trip, many people also recommended saving the money to spend in the destination country, instead upgrading the choice of hotel. In terms of which class to take, first class did not make the cut, with customers advised to fly either premium economy or business at the most, if looking for an upgraded experience:
“Only book business or premium economy. With the money you save, which could easily be 1-2k, spend it on activities or food when you’re in Japan, since you’ll spend a third to half of the time sleeping on the plane.”
“Business/first/premium economy tickets are the biggest rip-offs in the travel industry. For that flight MINIMUM you’re looking at +$5000.00 for business class, and for what? So you can be more comfortable but still on a plane for like 10 hours. You would be way better off spending that money on staying at insane luxury hotels.”
Customers were also careful to warn the future traveler that there is a great deal of difference in what the classes offer, depending on the airline. Middle-Eastern airlines were also praised as having business class seats that were better than first-class seats on other transcontinental airlines. Another consideration was that the original poster mentioned having anxiety around people, so not having to mix with other customers did put some points in the first class column.
Are Premium Seats Worth The Cost?
Overall, the question of value for the business and first-class seats lies with the customer. For the occasional leisure traveler who buys a ticket with hard-earned cash, the answer is no, unless the upgrade is obtained through a lucky bid, a discounted upgrade, a well-timed cheap purchase, or via premium points accumulated elsewhere. For the frequent flyer, the situation is very different, as discounts are more plentiful, and if the expense can be covered by a company, all the better.
In terms of which class to choose, customers should research which plane, which airline, and which class is optimal for them, as there is so much variance between classes. Flight reviews by YouTubers are a great resource for carrying out the research, as customers can get a preview of their flight by matching the aircraft and airline with their potential trip. From the tables above, business class comes out ahead in terms of value for money, with the caveat that research would have been done first.
