THE three classes of air travel have three distinct purposes. Economy is intended to provide relatively low-cost travel - an element of discomfort, particularly on long-haul flights, is reluctantly accepted by passengers as part of the deal.
In contrast, first is all about decadence. Space is ample and service is intended to be highly efficient, elaborately courteous and geared to catering to a passenger's personal whim. Flying in the front end of the plane is an acknowledgement of status, or at least of affluence.
Business class, however, means - or should mean - what it says. It is not merely a half-way point in terms of comfort, between the other two classes.
Its function is to turn what might otherwise have been dead time in the air into potentially productive time for the high-flying executive - either for work, for reflection, or for the necessary rest and relaxation before getting back into action on theground.
So, what are the priorities? Highly significant so far, as almost all business class travellers are concerned, seems to be space.
Leg room and seat comfort are among the most important reasons for paying the higher fare, along with the increased flexibility business class status offers the ticket holder on the ground.
''The main reason I usually fly business class is that I have to maintain a flexible schedule,'' said one frequent flyer.