From the airline’s perspective, this is very useful, as it allows for greater flexibility in terms of varying business class loads. However, as a passenger, it can be difficult not to feel somewhat short-changed by this setup, particularly in the era of legroom getting increasingly tight. Of course, you still get all the bells and whistles of lounge access and onboard catering, but, for many, the inferior seat makes the cost hard to justify.

Personally, I would fly (and have done so) in such cabins if the price was right. My first time in British Airways’ Club Europe short-haul business class cabin was a £60 upgrade, which seems a reasonable deal. Additionally, the flight needs to be long enough to get your money’s worth of food and drink, so I wouldn’t, for example, bother on the 35-minute hop from London Heathrow to Jersey. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!