As Dorothy, Renee Zellweger's character in the movie Jerry Maguire, stated: "First class is what's wrong. It used to be a better meal. Now it's a better life." Sports agents and other white collar pros like Tom Cruise's character are often spotted enjoying the proverbial easy life in first class, while most other travelers make do with pretzels and less legroom in coach. But there are often more than just the two classes for airline travel.
Some airlines refer to economy class as coach. Economy service features the lowest level of amenities. Most airlines, including United Airlines, offer complimentary soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea in economy class. Alcoholic beverages are available for an additional charge. While it varies significantly from airline to airline, food is generally available in some form. At United, for instance, you can purchase a snack box on all flights longer than two hours. For some longer hauls, United offers breakfast or fresh sandwiches and salads. Of course, typically there is a charge for food in economy class, with the exception of modest bagged munchies, such as peanuts or pretzels. As of 2010, the American Airlines website lists nothing more than bare bones basics in its coach cabin, such as "comfortable seating," "expanded overhead bins" and "powerports," for the use of electronic devices.
Business class is marketed by most airlines as a more comfortable way to fly. The business class cabin is typically located between economy and first class. The most noticeable feature is larger, more comfortable seats and more legroom. American, for example, boasts a "six-way adjustable leather headrest" and "ergonomic and motorized seat controls" on their international business class seats. The food is typically better and free in business class. United offers a choice of three entrees in business class, along with expanded entertainment options, including noise-reducing headsets. Those flying business class often receive pre-flight perks, for instance, such as priority check-in or pre-boarding.
First class is called by different names by different airlines. It is also characterized differently for international vs. domestic flights. Air Canada refers to its top class on domestic flights as executive class, which resembles business service. For international journeys, Air Canada markets executive first service with seats that recline into a full, flat bed and XM Satellite Radio service. On some airlines, including United, the distinction between business and first class is fuzzy, with the exception of larger seats with more legroom and space between passengers.
Some airlines, such as Frontier Airlines, offer just one class of service: coach/economy. Frontier says it takes this approach so it can offer low fares. Other airlines attempt to specialize service within one or more classes on certain flights. For example, as of 2010, United offers "p.s. premium service" on coast-to-coast flights between New York's JFK Airport and San Francisco and Los Angeles. United explains that planes offering this perk are reconfigured to provide more legroom in each of the three classes. In economy, there are 72 seats, each with up to 5 inches extra of legroom compared to a standard economy cabin on other flights.
