Business class

An elevated comfort and service class, often used for business travel. It typically includes wider, more reclined seats, priority services and enhanced dining, and on long-haul flights may include a lie-flat bed. Because of the cost premium, many travel policies restrict business class to specific flight lengths, seniority levels or approval requirements.

On long-haul flights, business class often offers lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, restaurant-style dining and amenity kits. Passengers also typically get access to airport lounges, priority check-in, security and boarding, and a higher baggage allowance. On short-haul flights, particularly within Europe, business class is often an economy seat with the middle seat kept free, plus lounge access and better service. Business class fares also tend to have more flexible change and refund conditions.

Business class is often one of the largest cost items in a company's travel budget, as fares can be several times higher than economy on the same route. Travel policies therefore usually set clear criteria — flight duration, overnight travel, seniority or the need to work on arrival — and often require approval. Companies with significant volume can negotiate corporate business class fares with airlines, which can reduce costs considerably.

In Tumodo, companies set rules for business class in the travel policy, for example by allowing it only on routes above a certain flight duration or for specific employees based on their position. Bookings outside the policy are flagged and can be sent through multi-level approval flows, with the option of appointing a backup approver. Corporate airline contracts can be uploaded to the platform so that negotiated business class discounts apply automatically, and car transfers and airport services can be added to the same trip.