First class seats drive airline profits

Thanks for the article, Lyndash. I have to say that I'm surprised. Since Delta has become more of a credit card operation than air travel, I got the impression that most of Delta one, etc., was occupied by upgraded travelers. I did think most of Comfort plus was folks that purchased that level of ticket. The ticket price for comfort plus is really not much more though I typically still purchase main and enjoy the occasional upgrade.

Occasionally, someone will post on here they don’t think there should be class distinctions on the plane like this. I always wonder if those people understand that the cheap airfare they like in the back was subsidize by the businessman paying $10,000 for that first class seat

Thanks for the link, Lynda! Those are interesting numbers!

"premium seats were typically occupied by business travelers. But since the Covid-19 pandemic, when passengers sought out more space, leisure travelers have been buying such seats in greater numbers."

This mirrors my experience. On my first trip back to Europe in 2021 after Covid I booked Delta One to be in a situation where I had fewer people around me even wearing a mask. I love the experience and yes, I am able to arrive less tired with the lie flat seats.

If the Delta One price is ridiculous as it was in January when I booked for my trip next week ($6000!!!) I book Comfort level and watch to see if I can upgrade either with money or miles. My initial fare was a shocker as I've never had one that low....$735 RT Spokane to Paris...just caught them on a good day. Now, since January I have checked the Delta website literally every day and have been able to upgrade my short segment from Spokane to Seattle with reasonable miles and upgrade my International segments with costs of under $900. I have had to be diligent and be ready to grab a decent price when I see it. I just keep a tab open in my browser and sign in every day.

The perks, other than the lie flat bed, fewer people walking by your seat and a wonderful level of service are that I have access to the SkyClub in Seattle and Paris. Plus...in Paris there is a "Sky Priority/Delta One" entrance to departure passport control and security. The line is usually shorter as it's located down a side corridor near bathrooms, hahaha.

Carol, its a symbiotic relationship. (Did i spell that right?)

I knew a travelling salesman who asked the airline desk one time why they penalize their most frequent and loyal customers with more expensive tickets. More expensive because they were purchased yesterday or this morning and not a month or two ago.

Ah, late-stage capitalism at its best when the 'folks in the back' are told that the 'businessman' in the front' is subsidizing their spot in the flying tin can. While they are at it, why don't airlines just convert their entire fleet to lie-flat seats and offer caviar to all their customers? It would be a nicer experience to get back to the early days of aviation, when the 'great unwashed' knew their place, stayed at home, and ones in hats, ties, furs, and pearls jetted off to partake in Europe's finest offerings in peace.

The truth is the airlines are giving us what we asked for. But we really want cheap airfare and that has been proven over and over again. those of us who watched the airline industry over the years have noticed that things like American Airlines more room in coach and airlines that only business class type seating for reasonable price, etc. just disappear off the face of the Earth

Alomaker wants to go back to the old days when we had all the space and we had service, etc. Get out your time, travel calculator and do the math. A ticket to Europe in economy with more service, etc. could have been had in 1955 for around $300 from New York. That is equivalent roughly to around $3000 today. doing a quick search on Google flights I see a lot of flights in the $700 range so well under the “good old days” equivalent pricing. . While the value of the dollar has declined, the cost of the airfare has not kept up so something had to give. But let’s blame the business class traveler because in our ideal state all passengers are equal and everyone should sit in the same quality seat and we want it to be like it was i the “old days.” Well let’s see it’s going to be at least $3000 but I would expect more because airline cost have gone up just like everything else, I guess this means people won’t be able to go to Europe but at least they will no longer they will no longer be subjected to having to see people pay more and get better service. If that’s what you want more power to you it’s not what I want.

So alomaker go ahead and attack late stage capitalism. But keep in mind somehow capitalism has actually reduced the cost of your trip to Europe

"the great unwashed"....must be the "lumpen proletariat" and " the swinish multitude"

In "The Grand Illusion" (1937), the actor E. v Stroheim remarks ," C'est un cadeau de la Revolution français." ( a gift of the French Revolution)....bravo .

I still will be one of those fortunate folks choosing to be in the back paying one thousand something Basic Economy to be saddled in an usually cramp, sometimes, downright unpleasant seat for 11 hours non-stop rather than paying $5,000 plus . It will stay that way as long as I'm still flying over.

That is timely. We need to be in London for a funeral service the last week of April. The econ fare on United was about $800 and business class was $9500. Recently, we have been paying the difference just for the comfort.

Looks like I got someone's goat - not one of yours, Mr. E!

If this were an economic/political/ social forum, I would post a rebuttal. Suffice to say, I read the article, and nowhere did I detect a hint of - 'capitalism has actually reduced the cost of your trip to Europe'. The reference to 'early days of aviation' is sarcasm, in case someone misses it.

alomaker, I am to simple minded to understand you. All i know is travel is substantially cheaper now and thats why all the undesirable are in the tourist destinations now.

I found so much of the information in the article very interesting and when you stop and think, it does makes obvious sense. A certain portion of retirement age folks have more discretionary income to spend on travel and covid was a wake-up call to many and having more comfortable room on an airplane is very nice. I think the demand is driving the airlines rather than the other way around.

I finally got to the point where it’s premium economy seating, no debate. I’m an uneasy flier with a tinge of claustrophobia and long legs and never can sleep on the flight. I’ve taken business class twice and it was glorious. I did actually sleep 5-6 hours solid. Wonderful. But I just can’t make myself punch the business class choice for the extra $3,000. We just booked flights from DFW to Hamburg, Berlin back to DFW in October. $2900 premium economy, $6,000 in business class.

Everyone has their own personal reasons, preferences and budget, no need to assure us how righteous we are for whatever decision you come to.

I will relate that in 1963 my family had driven from Texas to visit family in Rochester NY. It was suggested it would be great if I could stay longer with my cousins and fly home. I was 13. My parents and aunt and uncle thought maybe my grandfather might pay for the ticket. I overheard this discussion when I probably shouldn’t have. The ticket for one way to Love Field in Dallas was $99. Grandpa came through and I had a great summer with my cousins. I looked it up, in today’s money it would be $1,000 or more. I just looked it up, and today it would be anywhere from $80 to $220 depending on the airline etc. The economics of flying have truly changed.

Pam, I thought of you when I read that about people moving to the front of the plane after Covid. And thanks for the reminder to check for possible ‘cheaper’ upgrade prices. I forget to do that. The one time I flew in business class to Heathrow it was because I could upgrade for $700 on a trip that included a late hop into Bologna so I knew I would really be beat after no sleep. (You see how I’m trying to justify such extravagance! Drives my daughter crazy.) It was only for the one leg but boy, it was worth it.

I just checked for our trip to Germany in October. We can upgrade to BC for $2200 per person for both transatlantic flights. That’s almost $1100 per person cheaper than if we bought BC last month when we booked. But I think I’m waiting……

alomaker, the goats are still too precious for me to upgrade.

"We can upgrade to BC for $2200 per person for both transatlantic flights. That’s almost $1100 per person cheaper than if we bought BC last month when we booked. But I think I’m waiting……"

I'm glad you are looking! And yes, so bizarre that you can get upgrades so the total is less than the original price. You would be paying $1100 per person per leg if the $2200 is the RT price. I'd go for it but my "break point" was $1500 per international segment.

Most of the time when I was watching, the International segments were $2600-$3600 each. It got down one day to $1900 for SEA to Paris and I didn't buy, then back up to $3600. When I clicked on the website and saw $799 for SEA to Paris I grabbed it before anyone could realize the mistake, lol. A few weeks later I got the Paris to SLC for $870, I think and jumped on it as well. Upgraded my Spokane to SEA flight with miles one day when they were cheap. So far the SLC to Spokane leg price has been ridiculous for a 2 hour flight or not available to upgrade. For myself there is a huge difference in a 10+ hour flight and a 2 hour flight.

I'm not an extravagant person but I enjoy travel and can justify Delta One when the price is right. It is also awesome when you have a quick transit. I always have at least 2 flights and usually they allow the Delta One passengers to deplane first. When arriving back to the US and heading for Passport Control even with Global Entry that lead time is precious to catch a decently timed flight to my end-of-the-line airport!

IF anyone keeps a browser page open on their laptop all the time like I do, it's easy to have an airline tab up and just go in and look every day. I'm also doing it for Yellowstone lodging for the end of the summer, lol. No joy there yet though!

I'm not sure why anyone other than employees and investors cares what an airline's business model is, though it's certainly a fascinating article. Many thanks to the OP!

I flew business class exclusively for the past 15 years TATL. I likely won't do so again, because business class fares have increased well in excess of inflation and it now feels exorbitant. Other people reached this point earlier, and yet other people haven't reached it quite yet.

Bottom line: market economics works predictably.

jphbucks, the purpose of business is to increase the value of my 401(k). I think everyone should fly Business.

Touche, Mr. E. I am one of those 'undesirables' sullying the European experience of the hoity toity with a seat in basic economy, Airbnb bookings, and €7 kababs for lunch. By the way, there is no better food in the world than a good Kolkata🐐biriyani!

alomaker, kebab? German window meat food? Hmmmmm https://greekreporter.com/2025/09/29/germany-wins-doner-kebab-war-turkey-retreats/

But the mention of Kolkata biriyani pretty much cinches that I am eating Indian tonight.

Mr. E, Indeed! Cheap is my middle name! I knew about the 'Kabab War' but didn't know Germany prevailed. Funny, but the best biriyani I have had in Europe so far was in a hole-in-the-wall 'Kababbria.' near Bari Centrale. Go figure! Also, in Madrid, just up the street from the Lavapies metro station (where no tourist would dare to tread), but I know the food is going to be good when the owners and customers all look and sound like me!

I usually fly business and I try to fly NY to London. It is the busiest route across the Atlantic (29 flights a day) with seven airlines serving the route. This means, more competition and lower fares.

I could fly nonstop from the airport closer to my "base" in the US but that would cost at least $1200 more. I can fly to NY and stay overnight for a lot less than that.

However, one thing I have noticed is that while most of the airlines have the same fares between NY and London, Delta usually seems to be a bit higher.

I'm also finding that BC is selling out more and more. I fly back to London on Wednesday and the BC section of the plane is almost full. And that's before any last minute gate upgrades.

“We’re not going to plan around a recessionary environment,” Andrew
Nocella, United’s chief commercial officer, said in an interview.
“That happens every once in a while, but it’s not the norm.”

Eh, that's what bankruptcy and government bailouts are for.

I historically have been a loyal Delta guy and have status with the airline. When I travel with other people, I typically fly in coach/economy, but if I buy the ticket (with the other person paying me back), my status gets us economy comfort or exit row seats. When I travel by myself, my goal is to get a premium seat. My first choice is to use my "global upgrade certificates" to get business class for a reduced priced. For a fall trip to Czechia, I got outgoing business class for economy price and bought Premium Select for the return (while "wait listed" for an upgrade to business class with another certificate if space is available on the return flight). Sometimes, I break down and buy business class, but my goal then is $3500 or less round trip, which historically has been doable with sales or with travel during low season. That's becoming harder and harder to do on Delta. Which may push me to become a "free agent" after this year.

Long ago I heard/read that 'coach pays the bills, first class provides the profit' for airlines.