What is a mixed-cabin itinerary?

A trip that flies business class on some flights and economy or premium economy on others, priced as one ticket.

Mixed-cabin itinerary, explained

Long flights are where business class matters most. A mixed-cabin itinerary keeps business class for the long-haul flight and uses economy for a short connecting flight, which can lower the total fare.

It is also how some routes are booked when one flight has no business class cabin, such as a short regional hop at the end of the trip.

Your ticket shows the cabin of each flight. Lounge access and baggage allowance can follow the cabin of each flight, or of the long-haul flight, depending on the airline.

On a business class trip

New York to Florence: business class across the Atlantic to a hub in Europe, then economy on the one-hour flight to Florence.

Related terms

Fare class (booking 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.
Multi-city ticket
One ticket with three or more flights between different cities, priced and issued together rather than as separate tickets.
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.

Further reading: New York to Florence in business class. Every term in the glossary.