Business Class Ain't What It Used to Be. Don't Tell First Class
Five years ago, Covid-19 largely brought business travel to a halt. Now companies are getting their employees back in the air, and carriers are reinventing themselves to appeal to post-pandemic fliers willing to pay more.
Airlines worldwide are reconfiguring the real estate on their planes by segmenting their cabins into higher-margin business-class seating. They're beefing up their traditional business cabins to snag higher fares while providing more luxurious premium economy seating for travelers with smaller budgets.
In May, United Airlines revealed new United Polaris Studio business class suites that come with Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, privacy doors, and 27-inch seat-back screens—the largest among US carriers. The upgraded accommodations are 25 percent larger than United's traditional business-class seats and feature living room–style touches, including quartzite tables and seat-belted ottomans for companions.
Business class has historically served as the middle ground between economy and first class, with more legroom and better meals minus the hefty cost. In the late 1990s, British Airways set the standard for long-haul business travel with the introduction of lie-flat seats, spurring rivals to ratchet up their own luxury offerings.
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