I used to really resent the travelers with business class flights. It didn’t seem fair. All these people pay extra money for business class airfare while I would have to sit in cramped seats. This is no mere  case of envy. It’s not just that I wanted the comfort of a business class flight – I needed it but couldn’t afford it. You see, I am 6 feet and 5 inches tall. Sitting in cheap coach class airline seats is like torture to me. Nonetheless, I could not justify the expense of flying in business class flights. It’s not that I couldn’t afford it, but if I had spent money on that I would’ve had to save on my other expenses. It didn’t seem like a reasonable order of priorities.

Now that I am a business traveler, however, I love the business class flights. If I had not had to travel in all of those cramped seats for so long, I would not appreciate the luxury of business class seats. Although there are no cheap business class flights, my company has decided to spring for the added expense anyway. It really is a luxury. There is plenty of foot room, there are free, complementary drinks, and a decent tasting meal served as well.

I also have begun to understand the logic of business class flights. It is true that I missed not having a business class flight when I was poor. Nonetheless, I didn’t really need it as much as I thought I did. You see, I would only go on an airplane every once in a while. Sitting in cramped seats now and then was not that big a deal. I did not really hurt me in the long run. If you travel all the time, however, business class flights are more of a necessity. If you’re constantly cooped up in a small area with no room to move around, it can probably do bad things to your back. It is not just that business travelers have the money to afford this luxury. I really believe that they need it more than other people do.

Still, I can’t help but think that if airlines sacrificed business class flights and first class flights in the name of giving more equitable foot room to everyone, it would be a lot more just. They could charge a little bit more for comfortable coach class seating for all.