Originally Posted by
ricktoronto
Well actually it isn't class at all. Basis is the correct word. W and Q fare bases.
Class refers to coach/economy, business and such. So a W ticket is a coach/economy class with fare basis W.
Most airlines refer to the first letter of a fare basis (e.g. WLE3MSGE) as the "booking class" (e.g. W). Another term sometimes used is "fare bucket".
The booking class is different from the cabin class (First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy).