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![\"Russell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4393921_web1_IMG_4936.jpeg\")
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Russell Wangersky \/ Free Press<\/p>\n
The airplanes soar \u2014 the experience, when you\u2019re in economy seats, does not.<\/p>\n
We shook hands at departures, and the light rhythmic whir of his pristine wheelie bag quickly faded as he melted into the throng at Juan Manuel G\u00e1lvez International Airport while we were still gathering our bags.<\/p>\n
Made contrary as a broody hen (an authentic Newfoundland descriptor) by the oppressive tropical heat that covered me like a wet weighted blanket, I figured we\u2019d catch up with him and chit-chat for the next couple of hours \u2014 even though I could have easily withdrawn into my book, a dry-as-toast biography of Elizabeth I that I was determined to get through.<\/p>\n
I needn\u2019t have worried. We would not see our fellow taxi passenger again until we finally filed \u2014 thoroughly wilted \u2014 onto the plane, a bottle of water and a few stale airport empanadas later.<\/p>\n
He, of course, was travelling business class. And even in that small airport in the jungle, the most coveted passengers could await their flight in an exclusive lounge.<\/p>\n
Am I bitter? Not really \u2014 I just don\u2019t do well in humidity.<\/p>\n
But I was reminded of that experience when I was reading the Free Press on Friday and saw an article from The Associated Press \u2014 \u201cU.S. airlines redesigning travel around highest-paying passengers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reporter, Rio Yamat, described how the gap between economy and \u201cpremium\u201d passengers is widening; how two groups of people can be on the same plane but have travel experiences that are like chalk and cheese.<\/p>\n
One passenger, Yamat writes, is met by \u201ca flight attendant offering a glass of Champagne and a warm hand towel\u201d who \u201cwelcomes the passenger to a spacious seat at the front of the plane.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other poor sod \u201cstands in a line at every step \u2014 security screening, a caf\u00e9 selling $16 sandwiches, a crowded gate \u2014 then boards with one of the final groups, hoping there\u2019s still room for a carry-on in the overhead bin before folding into a cramped middle seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yamat\u2019s descriptive prose is so compelling, I can tell she\u2019s drawing on lived experience \u2014 but if she can steer me to an airport where you can get a whole sandwich for $16, I\u2019d be eternally grateful.<\/p>\n
Speaking of steering \u2014 and steerage \u2014 it appears that the airlines are trying to squeeze out as many of us pesky economy passengers as possible, as we don\u2019t bring in enough money per capita based on the bum-in-seat hierarchy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn heavily trafficked transatlantic routes,\u201d Yamat reports, \u201cbusiness-class tickets alone can bring in nearly as much revenue as the much larger economy cabin, says an analysis by consulting firm McKinsey & Company.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, no wonder airlines \u2014 Canadian ones, included \u2014 cater to those in the forward cabins. Luxe airport lounges offering mellow jazz music and iced custom cocktails behind velvet ropes, celebrity-endorsed skin-care swag bags on board the flight, lie-flat seats and fine china, curated food and wine pairings while the rest of us are nibbling a complimentary \u201csavoury\u201d pastry from a cardboard tube to stave off hunger pangs.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarie Antoinette would feel very comfortable on any of the big three airlines these days,\u201d William J. McGee, a senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, said in the AP article.<\/p>\n
Let them eat cake? I wish!<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Yes, every business wants to optimize profits. But somewhere in the most cynical recesses of my brain, I imagine a boardroom scenario where a bunch of suits are discussing the new focus on premium passengers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s an idea: let\u2019s make the economy seats as cramped as we can, reduce the overhead compartment space so that finding room for your carry-on feels like a test from The Hunger Games, feed \u2019em some paltry snacks while parting the curtain to business class often enough to let \u2019em smell the boeuf bourguignon. Oh yeah, let\u2019s give \u2019em some back-of-the-seat movies and games and stuff to keep \u2019em docile so they don\u2019t pester the flight attendants with complaints. They\u2019ll want an upgrade soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
So much for the friendly skies. Now, the chasm between us and the one per cent is every bit as wide at 30,000 feet as it is on the ground \u2014 except with puffy clouds.<\/p>\n
Pam Frampton lives in St. John\u2019s. <\/p>\n
Email: pamelajframpton@gmail.com<\/p>\n
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Pam Frampton Pam Frampton is a columnist for the Free Press. She has worked in print media since 1990 and has been offering up her opinions for more than 20 years. Read more about Pam<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pam\u2019s columns are built on facts, but offer her personal views through arguments and analysis. Every column Pam produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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