economy class

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The cheapest and most basic type of seating on a plane, train, or ship.

   Grammar: No plural and no article: fly economy class, not 'fly an economy class'.

   Patterns

   • fly economy class
   • travel economy class
   • in economy class
   • an economy-class ticket

   We flew economy class to save money for the hotel.

   Economy class was full, so we had to pay more for business class.

   The airline offers free drinks even in economy class.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Relating to the cheapest and most basic seating on a plane, train, or ship.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun and usually has a hyphen: an economy-class seat.

   Patterns

   • economy-class ticket
   • economy-class seat
   • economy-class passenger

   She bought an economy-class ticket because the flight was short.

   Economy-class passengers board the plane last.

Common combinations

fly economy class

They always fly economy class on short trips.

travel economy class

We traveled economy class to keep the cost down.

in economy class

There is more legroom in economy class on this airline.

economy-class ticket

An economy-class ticket is much cheaper than a first-class one.

upgrade from economy class

He was upgraded from economy class to business class.

Synonyms and how they differ

coach

Used mostly in American English for the same basic class on trains and planes; economy class is more common in international air travel.

standard class

Common on British trains for the basic class; economy class is more typical for planes and ships.

Opposites

Commonly confused: economy class or economic? economy class or economical?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “economy class”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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