What are the perks of flying luxury class?

By Carly Coombs | Posted: Nov. 4, 2024

Flying in premium economy, Business, or First Class comes with an increased price tag, but there are many perks to these tickets that might make it worth it for you to make the jump. 

Priority benefits will vary based on the airline, but there are some general expectations you can have if you plan on purchasing a luxury class ticket that might be appealing to you. 

On the ground

Passengers flying First and Business Class get priority check-in at the airport, which is a dedicated service lane for you and other priority passengers. This means you’ll usually have shorter wait times when checking in your bags and getting your boarding pass. Many airlines also provide priority check-in for premium economy tickets, so check your airline to see if you get access. 

First and Business Class will include two free checked bags, which could save you upwards of $100 depending on how much the airline charges for bags with an economy ticket.  

Some premium economy tickets also include complimentary checked bags. American Airlines premium economy passengers for long-distance flights can get up to two free checked bags, and some United Airlines premium economy tickets also offer free checked luggage. (Delta Comfort+ only includes a carry-on). 

Lounge access is another big perk if you are flying First or Business Class (premium economy usually does not include lounge access). 

The Salt Lake City airport currently has a Delta Sky Club lounge, which passengers flying Delta One or an international Premium Select ticket may access. The Sky Club lounge has plenty of complimentary food and drinks and comfortable seating while you wait for your flight. 

If you are flying First or Business Class on a long-haul flight and have a layover, you can often access a lounge there if your layover airport has one for your airline. Some lounges have specific restrictions or allow passengers access along with specific credit cards or airline points status, so check to see if your layover airport has lounge access. 

Early boarding is another perk of premium-class tickets, allowing you access to overhead bins earlier and a chance to get settled in before the plane takes off. And, if you’re in First or Business class, you might get a snack, drink, or amenity kit before you even take off. 

In the air

Now that we’ve talked about the perks before your flight, let’s get into the perks of luxury class while you’re on the plane. 

The first, and probably most obvious, is the increased legroom and seat space. How much extra space you’ll get will depend on the aircraft you’re flying and your ticket class. While you’ll get extra legroom on a premium economy ticket, it won’t be as much as a Business or First Class seat.

If you’re looking for one of those roomy, lie-flat seats, those are typically only available for international flights and select trans-continental flights. When you’re booking, you can check on the seat configuration that your plane will have and see if the aircraft has lie-flat seats for First or Business Class. 

Food and drink options are another big plus of flying in a premium class. First and Business Class will come with complimentary alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and a larger selection of snacks. For longer flights, you’ll also get hot meals (served on real cutlery even). Some long-haul First and Business Class flights will have 24-hour meal services or include multi-course meals. 

Premium economy often also comes with complimentary beer and wine and a larger snack selection than regular economy. Delta’s Comfort+, for example, provides coffee, beer, and wine for flights between 251-500 miles, and flights longer than that also include spirits. 

Some airlines, such as Delta, offer free Wi-Fi for First and Business Class passengers on planes equipped with internet. 

Amenity kits are also a nice little plus of flying premium. Each will vary by airline, and longer flights typically include more items, such as lotions and perfumes. For example, Delta One’s amenity kit includes slippers, and some long-haul American Airlines Business Class routes include pajamas.  

Because many airlines vary in what is offered for premium economy, First and Business Class tickets, here are some simple tables showing what some of the main airlines that fly out of Salt Lake City offer for luxury class passengers:

Premium Economy

First Class (U.S. domestic routes)

*Airline lounge availability will differ based on the airport. SLC Airport only has a Delta Sky Club lounge.

Business & First Class (long-haul routes)

*Airline lounge availability will differ based on the airport. SLC Airport only has a Delta Sky Club lounge.