Premium amenities for premium fliers contrast with standard economy experience
Two passengers flying to the same destination on the same flight can have starkly different experiences, according to a report from the Associated Press. One traveler moves through a priority security lane, accesses an invite-only lounge for craft cocktails and a chef-prepared meal, and boards early to a spacious seat while a flight attendant offers champagne and a warm hand towel.
The other traveler faces lines at every step — security screening, a café with $16 sandwiches, a crowded gate — then boards with one of the final groups, hoping for overhead bin space before folding into a cramped middle seat. Sleep comes in fragments, the report said, and a travel pillow does little for a stiff neck.
The divide is not accidental. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest U.S. airlines have pulled out all the stops to court premium passengers willing to pay for comfort, convenience and exclusivity. Budget-conscious travelers may notice a widening gap between the back of the plane and up front as carriers increasingly build their businesses around selling first-class, business-class and premium-economy seats.