Understanding flight codes
 

Understanding Emirates flights codes
Hi guys

New poster here - just getting familiar with the terminology. Am expecting to be flying from the UK to Australia via Dubai and Bali regularly over the next few years and want understand the mindfield of frequent flyer programs and choose the best path for myself and my family.

Can someone explain how the code letters mentioned frequently throughout this forum work? Is there a webpage that explains it in simple English? i.e. I see people mentioning "I flew J to Sydney and flew Y to Dubai" etc.

Thanks in advance.

Yep - there's a glossary here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glossary.php

Perhaps I need a lesson in how to use the Glossary. When I look up B, F, J, or Y, I find nothing useful.

To repeat antpugh's question, is there a resource that provides meaningful information? Even a list that shows the relative order would provide some information.

As noted above, booking fare codes vary by airline. Booking classes: F = first, J/C = business, Y = coach.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Booking class codes are specific to every airline. Class "A" can be the cheapest economy or the most expensive First ticket. Generally excepted around here is that "F" refers to First, "C" or "J" to Business and "Y" to economy (subsequently "Y+" is Premium economy).

Thank you, WorldLux and Adam1222. I suppose if there was a table with airlines on one axis and ordered class codes on the other axis, someone would have mentioned it. It seems like a good project for someone...else.

If you have a question about a specific airline, feel free to ask in that airlines forum. You would have no reason to compare what a T fare or a W fare is on multiple airlines, only on the airline you are looking at.

You can also google Fare Code and insert the name of an airline.

Generally Y is economy, J or C is business and F is first. All the other codes vary from airline to airline so it's really not much use having a glossary for it.

Economy plus is sometimes denoted by Y+ here on this forum, while others may occasionally use W for economy plus.

One reason there isn't such a table is airlines frequently revise the codes they use (in terms of which cabin they represent and the ordering).

To clarify and hopefully sort through the confusion here, airlines do not frequently change what *cabin* F, J/C, and Y, refer to. They change fare codes, which are different. For example a T fare can be a deep discount economy, that can be changed to Q. Flyertalkers typically only use these letters when talking about mileage accrual or upgrade priority. Most people would refer to flying on either fare as "flying in Y"

The F/J/Y distinction that people are repeatedly posting does not change.

Here are the Emirates booking codes --

Coach (least to most expensive) - X T L Q K U B M W R E O Y

Business - I C J

First Class - A F

The letter will be the first letter of the fare basis code.