Glossary
What Is a Booking Class (Fare Class)?
A booking class is the single letter on your ticket that identifies exactly which fare you bought. It is more precise than the cabin. Economy is not one fare — it is a stack of booking classes (Y, B, H, K, M, and so on) at different prices and with different earning rates. The same is true of premium economy, business (J, C, D, I, R) and first (F, A).
Why the letter matters for status
Status earning almost always depends on the booking class, not just the cabin. Two passengers sitting next to each other in economy can earn very different numbers of Tier Points or Status Credits because one booked a cheap, restricted class and the other a flexible one. The cheapest economy classes sometimes earn very little — or nothing — towards status.
You can usually find your booking class in your booking confirmation, on your e-ticket, or in the fare rules during booking. It is shown as a one-letter code next to the cabin.
Marketing vs operating class
On a codeshare flight, the class you book with the marketing airline may map to a different class on the airline actually operating the flight — and the operating class is often what determines earning. See marketing vs operating carrier for why this matters.