The Economics of Airline Class

Sorry for doubling up on aviation videos! Normally I wouldn’t do two videos of similar topics back-to-back but the video I was going to do just ended up not being interesting enough so I scrapped the script. I didn’t have time at that point to do a research-intensive video so I decided to do this topic that I already knew a good bit about.

Also I know this is a pretty loose interpretation of economics, but hey, I liked the title.

Also, one clarification on something I realized might be confusing during editing: airlines absolutely had first class in the 60s and 70s. It just wasn’t anything like the long-haul first class’ you see today. It was pretty much like domestic US first class today. The impact of the Concorde was the perceived competition it created for the highest-class of traveller. Some airlines decided to close their first class cabins and not compete while others improved their cabins in order to compete. Lie-flat seats or even angle-flat seats really didn’t become ubiquitous until the last 10-15 years with the demise of the Concorde.

Also, first.

New York shuttle: Last man on buys the fuel.

Baby come to India economy flyers making profits

You are so so wrong

If your statements are correct, why there are not airlines exclusive for first class target clients

Premium economy ? That s literal torture

And then you have the below wing revenue...cargo.This makes more money than above wing.. passengers. Then, if the cargo is broken down, more labour charges, more revenue. Below wing is the cream and Les demanding.A380s have less cargo space, sure more passengers but less revenue.

isn't that how capitalism works??

So why is 1st class not the biggest and economy the smallest

We also have to account for the fraction of empty seats in each department.

Can you do a video about the economics of Midwest Express airlines and why we can’t have an “all business class” airline today.

As long as I can afford it...I don't care about the cost of business or premiums😂

i still think of this anytime i see something complaining about economy class being cramped.

Concord didn't failed. Noob. American crap fly failed. Spectaculary.

I am no plane expert but I’m pretty sure the planes need wings to fly.

Recently flew Lufthansa from Philadelpia to Frankfurt. There was no first class and business class was excellent. Good food, service and the lay flat bed allowed me to sleep coming and going. This reduced my jet lag significantly and was worth the premium price.

Aha! Please remake this video, after Covid and Videoconfing became the rule. Tell us how many business-paid tickets are missing, as compared to when the video was made :).

Opportunity + Reason + Ability

are airlines a scam wow

At the end of the day we all flying to the same place😂

What percentage of first and business class tickets are actually sold for the cash price? I bet at least half are flying on miles.

Companies respond to customer demands. Vast majority of people want lower ticket price above all. Airlines respond. If customers prioritize something else, airlines will respond.

well, business class are usually 3x more expensive than the economy class. no one will pay 10x more just for a bit more comfortable seats.

This is a great historical info but what skews the statistic a bit is that a lot of business and first passengers aren’t paying that kind of money. A lot of them are status holders that are upgraded or flying with miles, not paying cash.

When airlines eliminate economy and first, poof… everyone will fly business. In fact, there is talk about changing the name, from “business class,” to “premium class,” or just “standard.”

Actually you are wrong. British Airways operated a regular business only service between London City Airport and New York from 2009 to 2020 on a specially adapted Airbus A318 aircraft. It had just 32 seats and initially operated twice daily. It was operated under the prestigeous BA001 and BA002 flight numbers previously used by Concorde. Unfortunately Covid brought an end to this service.

'Economy is not making money' is not an accurate statement.

Uffda. These square feet. Please use best measurement.

First class is Worth the price for any flight longer than an hour.

Crazy how someone has the money to pay 5000$ a sit

Man I wish I’d get to experience 1st class sometime. Or a sleeping cabin. Long flights are so tough to get through😅

Uhhh.... first class is here to stay

Cattle class, and it’s only gotten worse in six years.

I’ll happily keep letting first class passengers subsidize my ticket in exchange for giving up some legroom, a bland meal, and a status symbol

flying is torture.... thats why we pay anything to make it better...

Washingtons dullest airport

Inm

They all die in bad crashes. No classes considered then , so don’t die for more money 💰

8k for one plane ticket seems Demented

This explains why they treat us economy folks like cattle 😂

Airlines ARE swimming in money

I remember as a child in 1972 getting "bumped" into first class on an Eastern 727 "Whisperjet" (at 120dB, that's some cruel joke!) I was excited: "Tablecloths!"

Mom would dress us up to fly, and it was a classy scene back then. Even in coach.

L❤l😊

The deregulation of airlines was the worst decision ever made. They are ripping off the public and have no need to meet expectations. On price or on quality the airline industry is awful. And the elites running them, are globalist slobs.

In the future 3rd class passengers will have to stand because there won't be any seats but the first class will have couches, a pool and a rock climbing wall

The Concorde gave them reason to 😂😂😂😂😂

Thats why budget airline exist