r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/hconfiance • 4d ago

How long haul airline seating works Image

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6.1k Upvotes

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u/MedicOfTime 4d ago

If this was really true, the entire plane would equalize to business class seating only. Give us two more inches a row and everyone is happy.

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u/longtimenothere 4d ago

The thing analysis like this miss is the fact that a lot of 1st class isn't directly paid for.

A lot of people upgrade to first class using points or status. That means they might be paying more for other tickets to earn miles, or flying that particular airline more instead of competition, or using credit cards to earn points that kickback to the airlines.... all in order to be able to upgrade to 1st class.

If there wasn't a first class to upgrade to, then all that behavior would disappear and the airlines are back to competing with Spirit airlines on price.

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u/Mirar 4d ago

This is a good point, and I never see first class on inside-EU haulers. Do the US have first class on domestic flights? O.o

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u/longtimenothere 4d ago

Yes, and it is an even worse deal. Some 1st class flights don't even serve a meal, you're basically forking over a huge amount of cash for a bigger seat for a few hours, being able to board first, and you get to sit in a lounge for an hour before the flight. That's worth an extra $800, isn't it?

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u/Mirar 4d ago

Business class people usually also get a lounge, right? Also like any platinum card holder.

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u/longtimenothere 4d ago

Credit card holders are starting to get more benefits than frequent flyers.

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u/Impressive_Fortune09 4d ago

Premium tickets are prioritized over credit cards when it comes to lounge access

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u/omega552003 4d ago

Not for United. You could be 1K and still not be allowed into the lounge where a silver member with a credit card is welcome to enter.

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u/longtimenothere 4d ago

Delta you have to have a 1st class ticket, or Elite Status

OR

Carry an American Express card and get 15 visits a year.

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u/Stymie999 4d ago

Well they are still constrained by this thing economists call “demand”

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u/pickles_the_cucumber 4d ago

Limited demand especially off peak, but there’s value in offering timing flexibility, cargo still goes places and the airline needs to move planes around