My Executive Guide To Business Class
For those lucky enough to experience business class, perhaps on a honeymoon, a milestone birthday treat or for work, here is my executive guide to business class for when you find yourself turning left.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this newsletter.
The emergence of air travel glamour
Advancements in air travel have come a long way over the past 70 years and has been almost entirely democratised, but at the cost of a by-gone age of glamour.
We know from train travel that different class cabins are an old phenomenon – to separate the aristocracy from the commoner (literally: untitled person).
With air travel, the original purpose of flying was to ship mail, but one aviation revolution after another in the pre-war era saw regular flights carrying less mail per plane and an opportunity to fill cabin space with more passengers instead.
Then, with the advent of pressurised cabins in 1938, the opportunity and space for more passenger-orientated amenities finally landed. It was goodbye to the leather jacket and goggles.
First class on a TWA Super Constellation circa 1950s.
BA or Pan Am?
In true capitalist style, various airlines started to compete with their upmarket cabins. British Airways introduced the 'Executive Cabin' in 1977 and then 'Club Class'. Pan Am then introduced the 'Clipper Class' a year later.
Fun fact: It was Thai Airways in 1978 who called their front cabins 'Business Class', the label we know it as today.
Business Class Basics
5 unspoken rules on Manners Airways
1. What to wear
You may notice that a certain level of self-respect regarding dress comes with business class. Although standards may slip nowadays, joggers and 'athleisure' are really not suitable unless you're bursting into a jog at 35,000 feet. Thus, anything smarter than that (e.g. a nice shirt) is already a winner.
If in doubt, try googling pictures of the cabin to ascertain the sartorial form.
2. No staged photos
We can understand if it's your first time or it's a special occasion, but still be discreet with any photos, though ideally, none at all. Act as if it were your twentieth time already.
3. It's not First Class
A certain degree of gastronomy is afforded to business class, but wine menu questions such as, "What year is it?" or requesting your steak done medium-rare are not suitable. Try First Class on Emirates for that.
4. Complimentary does not mean the Last Supper
You can usually discern the infrequent flyer by how they always ask for free this and free that. Enjoy what is offered to you, but there is no need to pig out because you (think you) can.
5. Privacy is vital
Your personal seat cabin door (should there be one) closes for a reason, so it is very improper to peer over and be nosey at what others may be doing. People have paid a higher fee for space, service, and tranquillity, so enjoy that rather than ruin it.
Do let me know if these tips prove useful to you if you're lucky enough to be flying business class soon.
Safe travels,
