What Are Airfare Codes

• Airfare codes comprise a string of letters and numbers printed on an e-ticket or a paper ticket. The first letter is the class of travel. The rest of the string gives information on restrictions and upgrades.
  
  

Class of Travel

• The standard used to be three classes of travel: first, business and economy. Many airlines have now added a fourth class: premium economy or economy plus.
  
  

First and Business Class Codes

• The following letters are used for first class: F for unrestricted first, A and P for restricted, discounted tickets. C and J are unrestricted business class codes, D stands for a discounted ticket.
  
  

Economy Codes

• Full fare economy is coded Y. Standard economy is M or B and economy codes with many restrictions have many different letter designates.
  
  

Significance

• The code tells the whole story: fare paid, date booked, restricted or not, eligible for upgrade, rank on a waiting list. Some fare codes do not allow miles rewarded, others give a bonus of miles. This short string of letters provides so much information.