Originally Posted by
Efrem
In a competitive market with no universal definitions and everyone looking for a more effective way to do sell, you have to look at each case individually. There are generalizations, but no rules.
The closest thing to a rule is that F has no middle seats, while business may have middle seats (see United's 2-2-2 domestic F vs. 2-3-2 business on their 777s).
Of course someone will find an exception to this "rule".
Another "rule" is that if you buy an international business ticket with a connection to a different domestic US carrier, you will be sitting in coach, as you don't have a first class ticket.