The bean-counters thought about it 34 years ago!

British Airways used to have first class and tourist (or economy) class on their European fleet. The first class section used 2x2 seating and, depending on the aircraft, consisted of 2 to 4 rows of seats. Beyond that was economy.

However, this snippet from Flight International in February 1980 explains why that changed... have market conditions changed back in favour of a non-flexible, first-class (in all but name) cabin today?

Elaborate service is not needed on short sectors, and first-class revenue has not been covering the high cost of first-class service and its lavish use of floor space. "We have surveyed our business carriers, of whom we are carrying 3½ million a year", Watts says. Most are now flying economy class alongside passengers who have paid far less for their seats. Businessmen want more exclusivity, better seat availability and "less hassle".

Club-class services will offer separate check-in, free meals and drinks, more baggage allowance and many more seats per flight. For example, a TriStar cabin will offer 126 club-class (compared with 14 first-class) and 233 tourist; the 737 mix will be 45 club-class and 69 tourist. There will be a curtain divider between club-class and tourist; some routes (Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt) at some hours may be all club, while others (Malaga and Alicante) may be all tourist. The only club-class "non-extra" is the 32in seat pitch, but British Airways does not think that this, or the single aisle, is a factor on short sectors.

Tourist class will be "buy your own lunch box".