What is a 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 class (booking class), explained
Two passengers in the same business class seat can hold different fare classes, also called booking classes or fare buckets. Each letter has its own price, rules and number of seats for sale on that flight.
The letter decides how many miles you earn, whether you can upgrade, and what a change or refund costs. Airlines open and close fare classes as a flight fills, which is why the price moves.
Your ticket shows the fare class next to each flight. The letters differ by airline, so the same letter can mean different things on two airlines.
On a business class trip
On many airlines J is the full-fare business class with the most flexibility, and lower letters such as I or Z are cheaper business fares with stricter rules.
Related terms
- 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
The conditions attached to a fare: whether you can change or cancel, at what cost, the minimum and maximum stay, stopovers and open jaws.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
