Airlines have been unbundling economy-class tickets for the last few years, but more recently, unbundling of business-class fares looks set to become the norm. Some airlines are offering a range of types of business-class seats. For example, business lite seats might exclude baggage, lounge access, seat selection and any other privileges of a business-class ticket.
Amadeuss Travel Trends Report has identified this unbundling of business-class fares as a key trend emerging in 2024. According to the report, the trend started when Emirates began offering a special business-class ticket in 2019. The cheaper ticket did not include lounge access, seat selection, upgrade-ability or chauffeur service.
This was followed by Qatar Airways introducing the Business Class Lite fare. Passengers opting for this fare earn fewer loyalty points and pay extra for lounge access or ticket changes. KLM shortly followed, introducing the Business Class Light fares in 2023.
But while the trend continues to gain traction, these deconstructed offers take up travel agents time and leave customers more and more confused. And that confusion can add up to a handsome profit for the airline concerned.
Travel agent X (who preferred to remain anonymous) told Travel News that, although he believed more and more airlines would follow this practice, it was unfair in principle for airlines to remove amenities that they knew passengers would have to buy, and therefore pay extra for.
