Buh-bye first class? Wouldn’t that be nice

So they’re getting rid of first class, are they? At least that’s what our friends in the traditional media are reporting.

I remember writing a similar story — in 1999.

Forgetting, for the moment, that the new article fails to draw a clear distinction between domestic and international first class, let me be the first to say that if premium seats disappeared, I’d be popping Champagne at the Elliott ranch.

It’s not that I don’t like sitting up front. Quite the contrary, I managed to get myself upgraded on a recent transpacific flight, and it was absolutely amazing. The seats, the service … all very nice.

But having a one-class configuration would simplify my life as a consumer advocate in a big way. I wouldn’t get the whiny emails from the entitlement class, wondering why they haven’t gotten their upgrade. There’d be no cases like this one, either. Because there would be no premium seats to fight over.

But a careful read of my ’99 story and the latest one, which seems to be making the rounds in the travel blogosphere in all the predictable places, reveals that premium seats are still very much with us. They’re just calling them something different, like business class.

Moving to a one-class configuration might have a few other unintended benefits, which I outlined in this 2003 op-ed for (ironically) the same dead-wood publication that came out with the latest report. Oh, I know. I get around.

But most of all, a one-class configuration would level the playing field and make air travel better for all of us. One-class aircraft tend to have more legroom and better service, seat for seat, than the two- or three-class carriers, which divide us into haves, have-somes, and have-nots.

I think it’s time to pull down the curtain, don’t you?

(Photo: M oonpie/Flickr Creative Commons)

  • Carl

    There’s no reason at all to believe the eliminating first class will improve coach. Try out Spirit or Allegiant or Ryan in Europe. They are one class airlines with the tightest seats, the worst fees, and no food.

    If there are some flyers will to pay a premium for first class and a way to reward the most frequent customers when the seats aren’t sold, that’s a win-win. There’s a reason why premium classes haven’t disappeard – flyers want them and will shift their business to get them and it’s good business for the airlines.

  • cjr

    Except, we won’t end up with more legroom and better service. It will just be that everybody gets the same cramped seats and terrible service that the vast majority of us already get in economy/coach.

  • Plat flyer

    Easy for me to agree since I rarely am able to fly anything but economy. Personally, I would fly SWA a lot more often if they’d just let me reserve a seat; I HATE the cattle stampede for seats…

  • Lynn

    I’m with Carl. I appreciate my upgrades when I get them. And while business class is nice, most the planes I’ve been on lately don’t have it, its either first or coach (obviously I don’t fly United much)and it is still not the same as wider seats and having a little room to shift in you seat without feeling like your disrupting at least two other people. I’m okay without all the extra service perks in First class, but scoring that upgrade at the end of a long trip is nice. And I can’t believe that no first class would mean more leg room evenly through the plane.

  • http://www.talestoldfromtheroad.com Dick Jordan

    Give everyone aboard the same seating as now exists in First Class aboard both domestic and international flights and I’m with you on this, Chris. Otherwise, let’s hope the airlines keep First Class (and Business Class) so I at least have a chance to cash in my frequent-flier miles (or pay for an upgrade, buy a First Class ticket where it’s only twice the price of a “Coach” seat, or use my Alaska Airlines “companion fare” perk) to move out of “Economy”, especially on long-haul international flights.

  • http://www.roamingtales.com Caitlin @ Roaming Tales

    If I thought that eliminating premium classes would make economy class better, I would be with you. But I think Carl is right on this one. There are plenty of one-class airlines with horrible seats and service.

  • Don

    I agree with Carl. There are dozens of articles where the airlines continue to cram as many passengers as possible on the plane to make more money. Removing the first and business class seats would not mean more legroom and better service. It would just be removed to add that many more coach seating.

    Personally, I think the FAA should step in and reevaluate the standard size and travelling weight guidelines. Assume that each traveller is 6’6″ in height, and will be boarding with a maximum of 300 pounds of total weight (luggage included).

  • Carver

    And while we’re at it, let’s all drive the same type car, live in the same type of cookie cutter house, and wear the same clothes. Oh yes, we did that, its called the 50s.

  • MeanMeosh

    C’mon, Chris, do you really believe the Kool-Aid you’re drinking? You REALLY think the airlines will improve the experience in coach if they remove first class? Methinks you’re going to get the same crappy legroom, and the same crappy service, with the only change being more rows squeezed in to a one class cabin, as others have noted.

  • Suneel

    I’m fine with killing off multi-class seating for flights under a certain time threshold (say, 2 hours). But as a larger person, I will happily pay for wider seats with more legroom on longer flights, even without the extra service level.

  • Christopher Elliott

    @MeanMeosh but the Kool-Aid tastes so good. ;-)

  • Prim

    I’m with you on this one Elliot. Why not provide all passengers with top service from friendly staff and adequate seating/toilets, etc.

  • Arizona Road Warrior

    I agree with Carl…the airlines will squeeze out more seats.

    There are 137 seats on a Southwest’s 737-700. There are 124 seats (12 first class and 112 economy) on a Continental’s 737-700. The seats are wider on Continental (17.2 inches versus 17 inches) than on Southwest. The pitch is an inch longer on Southwest.

  • Phoenix Justice

    Chris,

    I thank you for providing such a valuable service and information, but on this issue you are wrong.

    First Class isn’t what it used to be. Right now, with the continued war on airline service (and customers), First Class service is what Coach service use to be. Yes, on international carriers first class service makes you feel like the king of the world, but domestic First Class doesn’t even come close. All it provides is a bit more sanity and a little more space.

    Maybe advocating that the airlines end their war on customers would be a better cause than trying to equalize all of us.

  • http://allaboutcabo.com Cara Gourley

    I tend to find that when everything is the same, there’s no competition. Meaning if everyone was paying the same, there is no reason for the first class people to demand higher standards (because they are paying more) there would be no reason to give higher standards in the first place.

    I think if first class was eliminated, the quality of the regular seats would NOT increase. They would stay the same or even get worse.

    I wish we could all get amazing service.. but it just never turns out that way. Sad but true.

  • Morton Brown

    I agree with the overwhelming majority of those whose comments are shown above. In particular, I must point out that for those who fly typically, let’s say, between LAX and SFO, or between ORD and JFK, the flight time is short enough so that the additional perks are not really important. For those flying transatlantic or transpacific, however, the situation is very different. I am not overly tall or overly large, but I very much appreciate the added comfort of 1st or business class on these flights.

  • Bill

    I like the economy plus product on United, it makes things more bearable. And I do like first class upgrades when I can get them.
    Airlines, hotels and car rental companies make a reasonable amount of money from me. I’m loyal and they treat me well. Works pretty well for the most part, I usually don’t have much to complain about. But I do my part to check things before I get them (like rental cars).

    It is nice to know that Chris is there when needed, you do a great job.

  • David Z

    Why not provide all passengers with top service from friendly staff and adequate seating/toilets, etc.

    Some airlines like Southwest already provide that. Just that some people are willing to pay extra for more, and that’s where others fill in.

    Depends also how much are people willing to pay for, of course.

  • Thomas

    Sorry, I’ll retire when that happens! Try flying Dubai/Atlanta for 15 hours, or better yet, Jo’burg/Atlanta for 19 in coach. I’ve done it once and never again. I’ve done the run to Dubai roundtrip 3 times this year. I’ve gone so far as delaying my return 2 days because business was sold out.

  • http://www.thetravelinggiraffe.com Crissy

    While I like the theory, it would never work.

    First, I think the big money they make off of some of the first class tickets help to keep coach prices down. I don’t have any proof of that. But I know the extra food and fancier seat doesn’t cost an extra $10,000.

    The other problem, as others have said is – for a shorter flight, coach is fine. But if I’m doing a 12 hour flight then I want to option of spending more money for more comfort.

  • Dang

    First Class will cease only when the Business Jet can flight 15 hours non-stop and it’s coming with the new model of Global Express from Bombardier Aeronautique.
    When the expanded economy return, the demand for First Class will raise again. It’s like Fashion, come and go and come and go.

  • http://golodgings.com Martin Smith

    Carl has it exactly right. You sound like a democrat. You think that by dragging other people down you can lift yourself up. All they will do cram more and more people in the same space and it will have serious drawbacks because I for one would just two or three seats and then sue the idiots if they said I couldn’t use them. Two seats for me and one seat for my meals and drinks. How would you like to be sitting next to me then?

  • Steve

    I’m skeptical that the existence of first class is really a problem. First off, as others have said, there are already one-class airlines like Southwest…and while I’m a fan of Southwest for other reasons, their coach seats aren’t any more comfortable than the coach seats on airlines with a two-class configuration.

    That being said, I always look at the people seated in domestic first class, especially when it’s first class in a smaller plane, and have to assume they got a free upgrade, because you’d be insane to pay several times the coach fare just for a slightly bigger seat on a 2-3 hour flight.

    Personally, I would like to see all of the seats on the plane made wider and given more legroom, and I’d be willing to pay about 25% more for that, but I think I’m in the minority of the traveling public.

  • phil

    You mention that removing first class would create a one class, that may be true on Domestic flights, but on International flights in most cases you have three, 1st, business and economy, so if my math is correct, international flights would still have “class distinction” and I am in favor of that. On UA you also have E+ which is not a class, but a slight upgrade to comfort and that is a big + in my book, and in away a class distinction.

  • Clifw

    Every time I trudge on to that plane from the US East Coast to Australia, I experience I strange sense of loathing of the people sitting up front.

    But the reality is, the passengers and corporate accounts in the pointy end of the plane are where the big international airlines makes their money. I forget the exact statistic, and it may be out of date, but it used to be something like 5% of the passengers make up 70% of the revenue on a flight.

    International First Class may be going out, but airlines like British Airways, Qantas (who are removing FC from all their routes except London and LA) and Cathay Pacific aren’t pouring millions of dollars into improving their Business Class cabins just for kicks. Even UA is upgrading their Business Class cabin (to the Asian standard circa 2003).

  • Carver

    I just got an e-mail from American Airlines. They are increasing their domestic first class. In fact, some regional jets will include first class now. So much for phasing it out.

  • Cara

    No way should they get rid of first class. First of all, if you want a more luxurious experience and are willing to pay for it, then why not have that option? Those want a lower fare and who are quite satisfied with a coach seat should also have that option. To me it’s like staying in a hotel: if I want luxury and roominess I’ll stay in the Presidential Suite; if I just want a room with a bed, the standard room for the lower price is an option I like having.

    I agree with Don– I think that there should be a mandatory reasonable seat pitch. The last time I flew American I was shocked at the fact that I, at 5′ tall, barely had any room in front of my knees. My friend, who is 5’7″, had her knees touching the seat in front of her.

    Another issue has to do with health concerns. My dad flies first class because he has a bad back and reclining takes the pressure off his spine. There are numerous other physical issues (knee injuries, e.g.) that make having the increased legroom in either business or first class preferable, if not essential.

    I would like to see the domestic airlines model themselves after the international in allowing more legroom for all classes.

  • Sean

    Chris,

    “One-class aircraft tend to have more legroom and better service, seat for seat, than the two- or three-class carriers…”

    I agree this is true on JetBlue, but I’m curious as to what other good examples are? Southwest feels like a counterexample, which has no better seating than United and Virgin America, and no better service than Virgin America, both of which have two-class seating on domestic flights. (I’ll admit Southwest has better service than United.)

    Thanks for your thoughts.

  • Jeff Carlin

    Chris, Chris, Chris…

    Do you really think that:
    a. Airlines will increase legroom without first class? Have I got a bridge for you! Think “extra rows of seats”.
    b. It’s a bad idea for an airlines best customers to be rewarded for their loyalty? This ain’t the consumer-oriented Chris Elliott I know.

    I think in all the years I’ve read your columns, this is the first one that I find myself 180′ out of sync with you.

  • Scott

    I have seen nothing in the behavior of the airlines that would lead me to believe that they would do anything more than cram in extra coach seats and with the same amount of room. Think about all of the mainline jets that have been replaced with one class RJs. Given the opportunity, they will cram as many people as the FAA will allow in the smallest plane they can.

  • http://www.shankman.com Peter Shankman

    You know I love you, Chris, but for the love of all things, stop lumping everyone who flies in First as “Entitlement Class.” I show up in my jeans and t-shirt, and am probably the chillest person in First – I don’t complain, I don’t bitch, I sit where I sit. A quarter million miles a year gets me that seat – I’m a NYC public school NYC born and raised kid. I’ve never felt “entitled” to the front of the bus in my life – I get it because I work my ass off.

  • KC

    Last year when I flew first class on one of the major US carriers, they didn’t even offer me a cup of water. It was a red-eye flight and think the flight attendants slept through it, so no service at all.

  • Tom

    The lobster salad was delicious yesterday on my Continental flight as was the Southwest chicken and the pretzel bread. I literally had no room left for desert. The music choices and movies were extensive as well. Watched a little Alice in Wonderland and listened to some Carole King/James Taylor. The cabin crew was cheery and attentive. My six foot one frame fit comfortably in the seat and my feet couldn’t touch the seat in front of me even fully reclined. I had a great nap once the three Jack and diets and two glasses of red wine kicked in. A better way to get from Los Angeles to New Jersey? I don’t think so. Eliminate first class? I don’t think so. What are we, barbarians?