Back in the days of the Titanic, passenger classes were simple. First Class was top-of-the-line service, Third Class was basic and unnoteworthy (albeit much better accomodations than most third class passengers were used to), and Second Class was somewhere in between.
In the modern airline industry, things are a lot more complicated…for starters, numbering has pretty much gone out the window.
All right, I know First Class still represents the premium service, and Business Class is more or less the modern equivalent of Second Class, maybe a little better. Beyond that, it gets tricky. Back when I’d just started flying, my family was booked into something called “Cabin Class”. I assumed that this was the cheapest class, but later on I heard of Coach, wich was (presumably) the actual chepeast class, sometimes referred to as Economy. Our flights were actually quite comfortable, so Cabin may have actually been a cut above Coach. I’m almost certain I’ve seen “Traveller’s Class” somewhere as well.
Making things even more confusing are the flights where every seat is the same? Is there even a name for this (“Standardized Class”)?
And are any of these modern classes used for ship travel?
(Kinda related question: Is it appropriate to call a male flight attendant a “steward”? Or is that term only acceptable on a ship?)
Re last question. I’m afraid you would get a strange look if you called a male flight attendant “steward”. As to your other questions, I think they use different terms so that you will remain confused and possibly think you are getting a good deal.
Yes, there still are different classes regarding ship travel. The amount you pay pretty much determines your cabin size. Do you get a room with two beds and a shower half the size of a human body, or do you get 1000 square feet of wet bar, balcony, master bedroom, big screen TV, and couches? Also, first class gets “perks” (if you wish to call it that) like dining with the captain and special access to certain areas to the ship. Mainly it’s the cabin size though. There are certainly choices in between those two extremes, but the upper and lower ends are often thousands of dollars different.
Just another case of euphemisms sneaking in, I think. Being a plebe, I fly what I’ve always known as economy class (coach to the Americans, and cattle class to those who work in the industry), but I think a lot of airlines don’t want to call it that now.
I usually fly Qantas, and they still call it economy, but British Airways has World Traveller class (the most cramped airline IMHO -they were the first to do away with the over-wing exits and plonk a few more rows of seats in), and Canadian has Canadian Class (if I were a Canuck, I’d sue the buggers!).
All air travel within Norway used to be single class. Then around the time that Braathens SAFE became just Braathens, they decided to institute “Best” and “Back” classes. It didn’t take long before it became fairly obvious that “Best” was regular old service at a higher price, and “Back” was the old price with no service except the opportunity to purchase overpriced warm sodas. They’ve backed down somewhat, but I believe they still have the curtain in the middle on at least longer flights.
SAS still has a single class, and open seating, for all flights within Norway. Almost aggressively so: fella bilong missus flodnak once had the experience of finding himself on the same flight with then-Crown Prince Harald; they had roped off a few rows of seats in the front of the plane for the big guy and those flying with him, but that was it for special accomodations. (They got the same dry sandwich and lukewarm coffee as the rest of the passengers.) And the third and smallest airline, Widerøe, only flies puddle jumpers - couldn’t divide those into first and tourist classes if they wanted to.
One benefit of living near Milwaukee (one of a few) is we get to fly Midwest Express a lot, which Zagat’s has pronounced the nicest airline in the US. One class, and it’s really more like first class. Two seats only on each side of the aisle that are wide and real leather, real china and silverware, along with glasses, salt and pepper shakers, and the best damn freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in the air, with the chips still hot and gooey from the in-flight ovens! Heaven!
The classes are different when it’s international. United First Class in the US is probably not as good as the United Internationl route Business Class.
Fly Singapore Air if you want some really nice First Class airtravel.