Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) complains that more passengers are flying premium than ever before. She wants people stuck in coach, because she thinks that means the least-advantaged would be better off. She sees airline results, with customers preferring premium products, as a symbol of ‘the rich getting richer and the poor poorer’ but it also misunderstands the airline industry.
It’s the same misunderstanding that led her to fight JetBlue’s acquisition of Spirit Airlines. Now JetBlue is struggling, Spirit is in bankruptcy – and JetBlue is being pressed to add things like first class and lounges, the very things Warren abhors.
She also pushes for caps on credit card interchange, which would undermine rewards and make first class a place only for those able to pay cash – exacerbating inequality.
More people are buying first and business class airline tickets than ever before.
What about main cabin tickets? They're down.
That's our economy. The rich are doing better than ever, while working people can't afford to book a flight. pic.twitter.com/65oIhnFeJs
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 14, 2025
To be sure, airlines are offering more premium seats than ever before, and making those seats more accessible. Both business and first class travel and economy travel have grown rapidly (over 10% last year). Meanwhile, Delta especially and also United and even American have reported better revenue performance from premium products than standard coach.
However there is much that Warren gets wrong. The actual claim that “tickets” are down in main cabin is not correct. Passenger volumes are near records. She’s actually referring to revenue or unit‑revenue improvements at specific airlines in specific quarters, not reduction in tickets sold. And there’s more premium passengers as airlines reconfigure cabins to offer more premium seats, that passengers prefer.
It’s not just a ‘rich doing better’ story, it’s a shift in airline marketing strategy that includes selling slightly more comfortable travel for less than they used to. Here, by the way, is Elizabeth Warren stepping off a private jet.
This is Elizabeth Warren exiting a private jet, and hiding behind her aide once she realizes she's being filmed
Remember:
Elizabeth Warren is a climate activist
Elizabeth Warren wants to kill crypto because crypto is killing the environment
But Elizabeth Warren spent $721k… pic.twitter.com/CCR9BueBmr
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 25, 2024
She spent $871,000 on private jets in 2019.
There are several trends that Elizabeth Warren does not understand.
- “Premium” includes extra legroom coach. It’s not just first class. People are buying more tailored products, even in economy. That’s why United and Alaska have invested heavily also in food for sale in coach. United and Delta have invested in seat back entertainment. High speed wifi matters – both as a tool for loyalty program signups, but because even the economy experience now matters on board. Future premium cabin customers start off flying coach and building brand loyalty.
- Airlines sell first class for less than ever before. A huge driver of ‘more people flying up front’ is that those seats aren’t nearly as expensive as they used to be. First class used to be several times the cost of coach, and most seats went to upgrades, awards and employees. Now airlines monetize those seats – at booking for a fixed premium often a couple hundred dollars more than economy, after booking with discounted upsell offers, and all the way through check-in. Unsold seats often get monetized for tens of dollars and people buy those upgrades (which means fewer upgrades for frequent flyers).
- Consumers buy on more than schedule and price now. This has been a 10-year trend, prevalent during the late Obama and throughout the Biden administrations. It isn’t the political point Senator Warren wants it to be. Airline distribution technology has changed to make differentiating and understanding and selling premium products easier, as consumer preferences have shifted to spend more for better experiences.
- Ultra-low cost carriers are no longer as low cost. Wages are up. Airport costs are up. That erodes the advantage Spirit and Frontier had. That’s part of the overall ‘trading up’ from the Spirit experience. But that’s also a good thing for people (you shouldn’t wish Spirit on anyone!).
There’s a broad trend that economic weakness often hits more vulnerable people first. And we may be seeing economic weakness, driven by an economy still struggling to clamp down on pandemic-era inflation coupled with tariffs that shrink economic activity. Both parties were responsible for pandemic spending. Both parties have turned away from open trade. Elizabeth Warren has!
And Warren urged the Biden administration to block JetBlue’s acquisition of Spirit Airlines. She celebrated the district court decision blocking the merger, and JetBlue’s termination of the deal. That led to Spirit’s bankruptcy and fewer planes and seats flying under a low cost model.
It seems to me that the goal is economic growth that benefits everyone. And that’s the opposite of Warren’s approach to limiting credit (by capping the value of offering credit), limiting trade, and demonizing corporations and success.
We should want more people to be able to buy premium products. Spirit Airlines is great for democratizing access to air travel, though the long-run airfare trend is down even without them. But when people are in a position to buy a better experience, that’s actually a good thing.
I am shocked, Chief Squaw Lizzy Warren is a hypocrite. I mean Democrats are such pillars of society. Housing illegals and fighting for better pay for everyone (except those they have to pay) just to name 2. Is she a secret plant from the Republican Party (snark). Enjoy your Saturday all and hope you have a great final 2 months of 2025.
Inequality is NOT a bad thing. Without inequality we have nothing to strive for and lack of choice.
There was (supposedly) no inequality in the Soviet Union. Look how well that worked.
Gary, inevitably, your post will lead some to attack the person, not her arguments. It’s called the ‘tu quoque’ fallacy.
Her proposal is not to force every politician to personally adhere to a perfect carbon-neutral lifestyle, but to enact systemic changes (like a private jet fuel tax or carbon limits) that address inequality and climate change for everyone. I get it, some of you are gonna reject that, be cynical, deny, etc.
While you may think premium seats are ‘cheaper than ever,’ the main cabin, standard economy seating has worsened over the last decade (smaller seats, fewer amenities, rising baggage/seat assignment fees, and yes, @Peter, less MCE!)
As to the jetBlue-Spirit merger, yeah, she (and others) were trying to prevent monopolistic practices that lead to higher fares; but, obviously, that point is now moot (they didn’t merge). If Spirit closes shop now, it’s not because of policy; it’s evidence of market instability, which is more of a reason to have more regulatory oversight, not less.
Regardless, we still need common sense, reasonable regulations that ensure a baseline of quality and fairness for all passengers, not just those who can afford to sit up-front or fly private.
@Michael Mainello — Your sad attempt to keep scapegoating immigrants or brown people or trans people or poor people or whatever boogeyman you can concoct is not going to effectively address ‘affordability’ which is what #47 promised in 2024.
He is a lame duck who would rather grift for himself via crypto scams, while he spitefully starves his own constituents, gives away $20-40 billion to bail out his Wall Street friends via Argentina, and is building a literal Versailles ballroom at the White House… feels very… “Let them eat cake.” Or, as I’ve been saying, since this is an airline, travel blog: Let them eat Biscoff!
@MGHOW — That’s a strawman. No one is seeking literal ‘equality’ in all things. Nor was the USSR about that either. The Soviet Union was a totalitarian authoritarian dictatorship. Nobody wants that. Capitalism won the Cold War, and is now the global economic system.
Progressives like Senator Warren seek a robust social safety net, strong worker and consumer protections, and attempt to do so with reasonable regulations that do not inhibit our productivity, efficiency, or creativity as a people.
You’re welcome to call her or me or anyone a hypocrite on such silly things (and to use nicknames, how fun!), but let’s be clear on the policy goals, ideologies, and human history.
Politicians are hypocrites. News at 11.
Meanwhile here are two headlines from the NY Post over the past 24 hours:
Rising costs make this year’s Thanksgiving the priciest in history: survey
What affordability crisis? New Yorkers line up for hours to pay $12 for grapes and $65 for olive oil at trendy new gourmet grocer Meadow Lane
As the second article said, “ Call it a tale of two cities.”
Pocahontas again? I thought she traveled by horse…
It really doesn’t matter what Senator Warrens goals maybe. What matters is that her proposed solutions, and those of most leftists, are proven to make the quality of life worse- not better for the average person.
Some, like her good friend Senator Sanders may become multimillionaires but those forced to fly coach will see their standard of living decline.
@Peter — Profit or prophet? Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…” Sure feels like the 2020s.
@Michael Mainello – Let’s see, in Column A we have a politician that lied about their family history and ancestry. In Column B we have a politician that’s a shrew marketer but also a pedophile, rapist, convicted felon, and treasonist (and that’s just scratching the surface). I wish there was a Column C to choose from, but if stuck with those two, I’ll take Column A. If name-calling is the strongest arrow in your quiver, your argument is pretty weak.
@Peter – but Das Fuhrer proclaimed that this Thanksgiving was more affordable than last Thanksgiving. The NY Post must not be using the correct ‘alternate facts’.
She, Sanders and AOC the biggest frauds of our day. But they all have one really big talent. Being able to take advantage of people even more low IQ than themselves. She was against the big banks and big pharma and then they filled her coffers and she now champions said parties.
And BTW, I work my ass off for my good salary and deal with endless pressures and as%holes. I’ve had times of extreme financial insecurity including living in a homeless shelter so don’t anybody lecture me on the downtrodden. If I want to spend my hard earn money buying premium seats on an airline she and all her empty head supporters can shove it.
There are no words for the hypocrisy of these people. Get out of my life. Rant over, have to leave for the airport now to check in for my first class seat purchased with my own money on an airline branded credit card!
In all fairness to her…was there a specific reason she flew private? Perhaps a flight between two airports that do not have frequent direct scheduled service? Was there a need to attend a specific meeting on short notice? I am not a fan of her. But, in the interest of “balanced” reporting it would help to get some of these details.
@George Romey — Not even close, sir. Our sitting President is the most corrupt person in the modern history of our country, and possibly the world, outside of Putin and his kleptocrats (though, it seems, they are one-in-the-same, and working together, too.)
No one is taking away your lame, over-priced, no-IFE recliner on American Airlines ($500/way domestic on-average). Your continued parroting of the ‘low-IQ’ dog-whistle… disgusting. Glad to hear that you believe you ‘work hard,’ no one is coming for your money; you are still a small-fish, relatively speaking, unless you’re a centi-millionaire commenting on Gary’s blog… doubtful.
@Don — Safe travels, regardless.
Who cares what she says? Who cares what AOC or old corrupt sanders says?
They say things for their own choir and the crowd of blue hair lesbians and traitor jews with beanies and tatoos…
I am a registered democrat but these buffoons ruined the party and will never be back in the white house
Nothing that she or terrorist mamdani promise or ask for will ever see the light of day and they know it, but that is how they maintain power
The poor and alleged disadvantaged need something to hold on to, even fake hope
@Lucky Larry. If my best defense of my character was I am not as bad as Trump, I’d off myself.
“Some animals are more equal than others.” Warren is an Orwell character incarnate
I bought a RT ticket for thanksgiving. I came into some extra cash so I thought about upgrading my seat. the “fare” I purchased is ineligible for upgrades. not just free upgrades (hens teeth and unicorns) but any paid upgrade of any kind.
is there any other reason for this than to punish people, rub our faces in it? I’m fine with people flying private and complaining about coach.
Gary lit a match and then ran away.
And every weekend Trump flies Air Force One down to Florida to play golf it costs $3 million round-trip
@Nun — No, this is not Animal Farm; we, the USA, today, are not the Soviet Union, at all. If anything, you are acting like Benjamin, here (recall, he’s the the donkey who is aware of all the corruption, but does nothing to oppose it.) Sadly, we could end up like Putin’s Russia, a mafia oligarchy, if we allow rampant corruption, crony capitalism, and a return to the spoils system.
By stark contrast, what Senator Warren and progressives like her are advocating for is reasonable reforms (addressing the existing inequities) within our current democratic capitalist system.
@Doug — That’s a pretty vile, bigoted, false ‘hot take.’ Of course, I strongly disagree. The mayor-elect of New York City is a decent man who has reasonable plans that he and his team will attempt to implement; he earned the votes to serve the people of our great city. Hope is alive here.
Her nickname is Pocahontas due to her false representation of her heritage.
Just saying.
@JD
Yes Pocahontas rides a horse and Buttabug rides a bike to work.
Stepping off a private jet and carrying a plastic bottle and an empty bowl ‘to recycle’.
@1990 — Your sad attempt to keep scapegoating immigrants or brown people or trans people or poor people or whatever boogeyman you can concoct is not going to effectively address ‘affordability’ which is what #47 promised in 2024.
Pathetic response, I never said a thing about “brown people or trans people or poor people or whatever boogeyman you can concoct”.
Secondly, her hypocrisy illustrates the Democ”rat” politician to the tee. She is an actual liar with a multitude of examples of her mis-representations. But, Democ”rat” voters don’t care, they are going to vote for her no matter what, just read what @LuckyLoserLarry wrote.
@LuckyLoserLarry. “pedophile, rapist, convicted felon, and treasonist ” Unlike President Trump, Biden is 3 of the 4 and we have actual evidence from journals. interviews and affidavits. Now the convicted felon will probably be overturned since the legislature had to change laws to make misdemeanor accounting errors (at worst) into a crime.
And as always it is fun to watch Democ”rat” apologists justify crime and hypocrisy. I hope you and @1990 don’t hurt yourself twisting illegal behavior into a virtue.
@Michael Mainello — So, you admit you attempted to scapegoat immigrants, at least, above, explicitly, (and, all the others, just implicitly.)
The use of animalistic and inspect-like language to refer to your fellow human beings is inherently dehumanizing. Reminiscent of #47’s use of ‘vermin’ and ‘enemy from within’ which are from the darkest side of right-wing politics. Your ‘ideas’ are not to be taken seriously. See, paradox of intolerance.
Even my tiny Piper Tomahawk couldn’t give a worse buzz to her Congressional tipi-tepee-teepee than what this Chief Bigturds Squaw’s got already.
You do-gooding enviro-nutsos keep throwing your worlds national and personal energy away on these socialist liberal left-wing progressivist grifters, like Warren, even when the feces of their condescension fly in your face with such first hand demonstrations showing they are nothing but frauds, crooks, and phonies. First step of any 12 step program people is too… so take it.
So, I wonder what hercworld would look like. I’m guessing all planes are like a Ryanair Max 8200. No charges for seats. Free extra seat for the obese. Oh, fun.
@1990 — So, you admit you attempted to scapegoat immigrants, at least, above, explicitly, (and, all the others, just implicitly.)
I don’t admit anything, nor did I say anything. Since Democ”rats” such as yourself, have to “read between the lines” or divine intention, I understand but don’t agree with your vitriol.
You do seem in a worse mood than usual, I guess President Trump’s triumphs and victories are getting to you. Don’t you want America to be great?
She’s a through hypocrite and a race grifter. It’s amazing how many self hating white liberals can’t stand the skin they were born with then attempt to help me as a minority. Take a hint and a clue we don’t need any of you to help us. If you are the cause of the problem you never can be part of the solution. Fix your own lives before trying to wreck ours like you have historically.
@BA — No.
Gary, I officially rescind my accusation that you are a Democrat shill (Obviously I lean more towards right) Now that I see more article exposing these Democrat hypocrites , I appreciate you being more fair and balance lately. Keep up the good work!
@1990: I gave up at any attempt at trying to understand your positions when you wrote that Mamdani is a decent man with reasonable positions.
You must have hit your head this morning, I wish you a complete recovery.
@Michael Mainello — Did YOU NOT-SEE the recent election results, any recent polls, or economic indicators…
@Common Sense — I’m giving him and his team a fair chance as are most NYC residents; personally, I was pleased to see Lina Khan recently join his transition team. I wouldn’t bet against New York City, regardless.
@1990: I have no words. I thought you were more open minded than that.
First Pocahontas banned smoke signals because of climate change, she denies the Wounded Knee Massacre, then she gutted the T-PEE industry because they didn’t rent to illegals, now she wants to ban flying up front while she flies private sky feather between reservations?
What a horrible, horrible person – may she receive many smallpox blankets this holiday season.
@Common Sense — Uh, back at you; you’re the one prejudging this guy, accusing him of hyperbolic crimes. I think you are too focused on the absurd anti-Muslim rhetoric from the campaign.
I am the one being ‘open-minded’ by giving him a chance, like the NYC voters decided.
Time will tell if he and his team can deliver on any of their economic promises. Affordable housing,. freezing rents, etc. may not be easy or even work as they intend. Likewise, I’m not necessary going to go to any city-run groceries or ride free-buses that often, but for those that need that help, I think it can do some good. We’ll see how practical it actually is.
The most important thing the mayor of any city, larger or small, can do is to effectively run the municipal services (police, fire, schools, sanitation, transportation, etc.) So long as those go uninterrupted, he’ll be no different from any other mayor. If he brings hope to the young, that’s a plus. They need that hope, now more than ever.
@Kevin — That’s some nice ‘manufactured outrage’ you got there.
Senator Warren’s proposed private jet fuel tax is a good start to address systemic inequities. You can call her, me, or anyone else whatever names you want; but, that’s ‘smoke and mirrors.’
Warren or Sanders or any Democrat’s travel spending is a rounding error compared to the tens and hundreds of millions #47 has charged taxpayers to fly Air Force One to his private golf resorts, let alone his ongoing scheme of profiting from the presidency. (Carter should’ve never sold his peanut farm if all that was gonna be allowed.) So, please keep feigning outrage, while cheerleading for your guy, who is the greatest institutional grift in modern history.
Thanks for this unvarnished reporting, Gary. The mental gymnastics from Leftists to justify the use of private jets by their gliterati is hilarious. The recent private jet travel for a Florida vacation by Senators Warren, Murphy and Smith during the government shutdown while over 2,000,000 federal employees were out of work and unpaid for 43 days says all you need to know about their true priorities. Congressional term limits can’t come soon enough.
@Frank — Oh, so now fitness and flexibility is bad, is it? Psh. And you hate tasty Italian candy now? Glitterati is a treat, signore. Doubtful any of those folks want to ‘vacation’ in Florida, either. Besides, didn’t your Dear Leader take a ‘vacation’ to Asia during this shutdown, just to be showered with gifts from foreign governments? That is not America First.
All that said, and I do enjoy calling out your and your team’s far worse hypocrisy, I am soooo over the gerontocracy in our government, so, if you wanna push for bi-partisan legislation over reasonable term-limits, including an upper-limit, like we do not need octogenarians actively serving in important roles, period; retire, advise others, be an emeritus, etc.
A relative married a very liberal woman. Their wedding page proudly proclaims “we support all social causes that ensure we live in a just and equitable society.”
On the registry the bride asks for a $280 blanket.
@Disgruntled American — That’s not the ‘own’ you think it is. Since we’re doing whataboutisms, here’s one that actually is a real problem: big oil and big pharma still get heavily subsidized by our tax dollars (think tens and hundreds of millions or billions, not $280). Make that make sense.