--- title: "Business Class Glossary: Fares, Seats and Tickets" description: "Open jaws, fare classes, consolidator fares, lie-flat seats, stopovers and more: the words of a business class ticket, explained in plain English." canonical_url: https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary last_updated: 2026-11-04 --- # Business class glossary Source: https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary The words airlines and agents use about a business class ticket, each explained in plain English, with what it means for your trip. [Talk to an expert](tel:+18883227999) ## Routes and trips How a trip is shaped: where it stops, where it connects and how it is ticketed. - [Open-jaw ticket](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/open-jaw-ticket) A round trip that flies into one city and home from another, or leaves from a different city than it returns to. It is priced as one ticket, not two one-ways. - [Multi-city ticket](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/multi-city-ticket) One ticket with three or more flights between different cities, priced and issued together rather than as separate tickets. - [One-way ticket](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/one-way-ticket) A ticket for one direction only. On many international routes a business class one-way costs close to a round trip; some airlines price it at about half. - [Stopover](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/stopover) A planned stay of more than 24 hours in a connecting city on an international ticket, as opposed to a layover, which is a short wait between flights. - [Layover](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/layover) The time between two flights in a connecting city, usually a few hours. On international tickets it lasts under 24 hours; anything longer is a stopover. - [Minimum connection time](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/minimum-connection-time) The shortest time an airport and airline allow between two connecting flights on one ticket. Tickets are never sold with less. - [Nonstop and direct flights](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/nonstop-vs-direct-flight) A nonstop flight lands only at your destination. A direct flight keeps one flight number but may stop on the way, sometimes for hours. - [Red-eye flight](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/red-eye-flight) A flight that leaves late in the evening and lands early the next morning, so most of it is flown at night. - [Hub airport](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/hub) An airport where an airline bases its network and connects most of its flights, such as Frankfurt for Lufthansa or Doha for Qatar Airways. - [Positioning flight](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/positioning-flight) A separate flight to the city where the main trip starts, taken because a fare from there is cheaper or better. - [Fifth-freedom flight](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/fifth-freedom-flight) A flight by an airline between two countries that are not its home, as part of a route that starts or ends at home. ## Fares and rules What sets the price of a ticket, and what happens if your plans change. - [Consolidator fare](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/consolidator-fare) A fare an airline sells through agencies at a negotiated price it does not publish on its own website, often below the published fare for the same seat. - [Published fare](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/published-fare) The fare an airline files publicly and sells to anyone, on its own website and on booking sites: the price discounted fares are measured against. - [Fare class (booking class)](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/fare-class) A one-letter code inside a cabin that sets a ticket's price and rules. Business class has several, often J, C, D, I and Z; each airline uses its own. - [Fare basis](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/fare-basis) The code on a ticket that names the exact fare it was sold at, starting with its fare class letter. It points to the fare's rules. - [Fare rules](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/fare-rules) The conditions attached to a fare: whether you can change or cancel, at what cost, the minimum and maximum stay, stopovers and open jaws. - [Refundable fare](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/refundable-fare) A fare you can cancel for your money back, sometimes minus a fee. A nonrefundable fare returns nothing, or only a credit with the airline. - [Travel credit](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/travel-credit) Value an airline keeps for you when a ticket is canceled and not refunded in money, to spend on a later ticket within a set time. - [Schedule change](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/schedule-change) When the airline changes the time, flight number, route or aircraft of a flight you have booked, after you bought the ticket. - [Advance purchase](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/advance-purchase) A fare rule that a ticket must be bought a set number of days before departure. Cheaper fares often require it. - [Carrier-imposed surcharge](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/carrier-imposed-surcharge) A charge an airline adds to a ticket on top of the fare and government taxes, shown in the taxes box. It is the airline's own charge, not a tax. - [Upgrade](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/upgrade) Moving from a lower cabin to a higher one, paid for or given by the airline to frequent flyers when the cabin has room. ## Seats and cabins What you get on board, from a flat bed to a door. - [Lie-flat seat](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/lie-flat-seat) A business class seat that turns into a fully flat bed, 180 degrees, so you can sleep lying down on a night flight. - [Angled lie-flat seat](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/angled-lie-flat-seat) A seat that reclines to a long flat surface tilted at an angle, not level, so you tend to slide down it while sleeping. - [Direct aisle access](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/direct-aisle-access) A seat layout where every business class seat opens onto the aisle, so no one climbs over a neighbor. - [Business class suite](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/business-class-suite) A business class seat with a door or high walls that close it off from the aisle, for more privacy. - [Seat map](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/seat-map) A drawing of the cabin that shows where each seat is and which are free. In business class it also shows the layout, such as 1-2-1. - [Widebody aircraft](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/widebody-aircraft) A plane with two aisles, such as the Boeing 777 and 787 or the Airbus A350 and A380. Most long-haul business class cabins are on widebodies. - [Amenity kit](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/amenity-kit) The small bag airlines give long-haul business class passengers: usually an eye mask, earplugs, socks, a dental kit and skin care. - [Premium economy](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/premium-economy) A cabin between economy and business class: a wider seat with more legroom and recline, but no bed. - [First class](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/first-class) The cabin above business class on some long-haul flights: fewer seats, more space and more service. Many airlines no longer offer it. - [Mixed-cabin itinerary](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/mixed-cabin-itinerary) A trip that flies business class on some flights and economy or premium economy on others, priced as one ticket. ## At the airport From check-in to the gate: what a business class ticket opens before the flight, and what belongs to the traveler. - [Priority boarding](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/priority-boarding) Boarding the plane in one of the first groups, before most passengers. Business class tickets include it. - [Fast track security](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/fast-track-security) A separate, shorter security lane for premium passengers at many airports outside the US. In the US, TSA PreCheck is the usual faster lane. - [TSA PreCheck](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/tsa-precheck) A US program for faster airport security: approved travelers keep their shoes, belt and light jacket on and leave laptops and liquids in the bag. - [Global Entry](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/global-entry) A US Customs and Border Protection program that speeds up immigration and customs when returning to the US. It includes TSA PreCheck. - [Lounge access](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/lounge-access) Use of an airline's lounge before a flight and between connections. Most international business class tickets include it, the airline's or a partner's. - [Chauffeur service](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/chauffeur-service) A car to or from the airport that a few airlines include with some business or first class tickets, in some cities; most airlines do not offer it. ## Airlines and tickets How airlines work together, and how to check and manage a booking. - [Airline alliance](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/airline-alliance) A group of airlines that share networks, lounges and loyalty benefits: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam. - [Airline joint venture](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/airline-joint-venture) A deeper partnership in which airlines coordinate schedules and fares on a set of routes and share the revenue, beyond an alliance. - [Codeshare flight](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/codeshare) A flight sold under the flight number of more than one airline. One airline flies the plane; the others sell seats on it. - [Interline agreement](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/interline-agreement) An agreement between airlines to carry each other's passengers and bags on one ticket, even outside an alliance. - [E-ticket number](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/e-ticket-number) The 13-digit number of an issued airline ticket. Its first three digits identify the airline, and it proves the ticket exists in the airline's system. - [Record locator (PNR)](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/record-locator) The six-character code of a booking, also called a booking reference, confirmation code or PNR. You use it to manage the trip. - [IATA accreditation](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/iata-accreditation) Registration with the International Air Transport Association that lets an agency issue airline tickets. Each accredited agency has a number you can check. - [Baggage allowance](https://buybusinessclass.com/glossary/baggage-allowance) How many bags you can check and carry on, and how heavy they can be. Business class usually includes more than economy; the airline sets the exact allowance. ## Questions about a fare? Ask an agent An agent explains the rules of every fare before you pay, by phone, email or WhatsApp, 24/7. [+1 (888) 322-7999 Agents 24/7](tel:+18883227999) or [WhatsApp an agent at +1 (224) 346-9633](https://wa.me/12243469633)