Tag Archives for business class.
An American Airlines business class passenger says a screaming child kept him awake for 9.5 hours after he paid $1,800 per person to upgrade, and American offered just a $25 travel credit. The incident raises the obvious debate: children have just as much right to premium cabins as anyone else, but if an airline chooses to compensate a ruined overnight business class experience, $25 feels more insulting than helpful.
Delta confirms plan to consider Thompson VantageSOLO business class seat, which is already flying with several airlines, because their planned Safran seat for premium A321neo transcon aircraft has so far been unable to achieve certification. That’s a less desireable seat, and still leaves their new cross-country business class product years away.
Business class doors have quickly become the next must-have feature after flat beds and direct aisle access, but that does not mean they always make the seat better. On some aircraft, especially narrowbodies, the space used for doors may be better spent on a longer bed, a wider aisle, or a roomier overall seat—raising the question of whether doors deliver real privacy or just the appearance of it.
American Airlines has opened one of the best systemwide upgrade opportunities it has offered in years: buy premium economy, request the upgrade by Wednesday night, and business class can clear as long as a seat is still for sale. That makes this promotion unusually broad and unusually valuable, because it bypasses the normal scarcity of upgrade inventory and turns a hard-to-use benefit into confirmed long-haul business class for August travel.
Starting January 7, British Airways will stop serving a full English-style hot breakfast on its shortest business class routes out of London. Club Europe passengers will get fruit, yogurt, and pastry instead—another cost-cut that chips away at the one thing European business class usually still does well: catering.
Delta and SAS are offering rare sub-$2,000 roundtrip business class fares to Europe, with prices in the $1,600s to cities like Rome, Milan, Vienna and Copenhagen. The sale is wide open from January through May 2026, includes Saturday-night stays, and is bookable through December 2 unless pulled earlier.
A woman flying from New York to Zurich says her business-class seatmate erupted when her nine-month-old cried for two minutes, even trying to persuade the crew to move her to economy. The incident sparked a debate about who “belongs” in premium cabins — and what parents can realistically do to minimize disruptions when they travel with young children.
Only Qatar Airways and THAI offer caviar in long haul business class. And it’s surprisingly inexpensive to do. The investment, for them, almost seems like a no-brainer.
Overall value across the Atlantic was fantastic. The seats are mostly fine, though the new suites are better. Food was below average for American, and service was pretty ordinary, but a good way to cross the Pond. Getting any of American’s other seats would have been better, food is usually better, and many crews are too. So I don’t hesitate to fly them, I just feel like they can do better than they did here – but I did get my points worth as it were.
Can an economy passenger come up to business class to join a family member? If a husband and wife split up – he takes the first class seat, and she’s stuck in coach – can they squeeze into the same seat up front, or take turns using it?
Officially, no. But it happens. And one flight attendant allowed it.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
