Move over, suits: A new type of traveller is taking over business class

The profile of business-class passengers is shifting. A report cited by the article says that on flights from London, around 70% of customers in business cabins are leisure travelers, up sharply from when business travelers reportedly dominated as much as 90% of premium seats. The change is attributed to both demand and supply: companies are spending less on premium travel, and business-class fares can be roughly double economy prices on transatlantic routes. With meetings increasingly happening via digital platforms, fewer executives need long-haul trips. Meanwhile, leisure travelers are accessing premium cabins through loyalty miles, price tracking, bank cards, promotional offers, mixed-cabin itineraries and even seat auctions. The article also notes strong luxury and cruise travel spending as an additional driver.