Business Class on airplanes is synonymous with luxury. While some airlines are more luxurious than others (here's looking at you, Qatar Q-Suites), if you're itching to taste the business class life but at a fraction of the price tag, these new airline business class models may be for you.

In recent years, especially after the pandemic, airlines have been looking for novel ways to keep revenue up. Though air travel is recovering rapidly, decreasing business travel, new airlines with better ticket prices, and new cabin class models like premium economy continue to put pressure on the existing aviation industry to succeed. So this is your chance, as a traveler, to take advantage of all the deals!

Related: 10 Airlines With A First-Class Experience Worth Every Penny (5 Not Worth Considering)

What Does "Unbundled" Mean?

When purchasing an airline ticket for the majority of legacy carriers, your ticket comes "bundled" with certain amenities--a bag included, the ability to choose your seat before the flight, sometimes a meal but often at least a snack. "Unbundling" is often the tactic of low-cost carriers looking to sell extremely cheap base fares with added extras that can creep the price up.

For instance, famous American low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier charge unbelievably low prices for tickets. Passengers then pay extra fees if they want to choose their seat--like if you have a preference for aisle or window--and if they want to check a bag or even carry one on. These extra fees carry on into the cabin experience as well; these low-cost carriers will charge you additional fees for everything from a cup of water to using the power outlets (that's you, Scoot Airlines). Also, keep in mind that unbundling/low-cost may also mean little to no recline on seats and no in-flight entertainment.

So while the unbundled experience sounds kind of like a flying nightmare, it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of comfortable, highly-regarded budget airlines that make the experience well worth the savings, and now, there are some that are tackling the business class market.

Business Class Seats With A More Economy Experience-Zipair

Dubbed a new "basic airline," Japan's Zipair is taking the unbundled business class experience and running--or should we say--flying with it. A low-cost, budget subsidiary of Japan Airlines, Zipair launched in 2020, operating a small fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These new wide-body jets are equipped with fully lie-flat seats in their business class, set up in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Zipair's business class cabin is very generously spaced, and the newness of the hard product makes you forget that you're flying a low-cost carrier. Where you're reminded is in the soft product--things like catering, onboard service, amenities, and ground service.

Traditional business class from full carriers would include things like an amenity kit stocked with travel-sized cosmetics and swag (like socks, slippers, eyeshades), checked bag privileges, bedding, and meals (sometimes multiple)/drinks (including alcoholic beverages). Zipair has completely unbundled all of these things, instead electing to follow the low-cost carrier way of doing things. Therefore, as a business passenger, you pay extra for all the aforementioned perks in an "a la carte" menu format.

Related: Flying Was Once A Luxury Afforded To The Elite, This Is How Much Things Have Changed

This is where the unbundled business class can be appealing, however. If you have no need for slippers or socks or blankets because you're planning on bringing those items with you anyway, then you can elect not to purchase the amenity kit. If you're a light traveler and will only be traveling with cabin luggage (which Zipair does not charge for), then you have no need to pay for a checked bag. Planning on eating a large meal before boarding because you plan on sleeping the entire flight anyway? Then that's another fee that you won't have to pay.

So the real question here is: how much does it all cost? While prices change on a variety of factors, including time of purchase and time of travel, here are some sample numbers for a quick comparison. An August 2022 flight from Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, to Los Angeles International Airport, in their fully lie-flat seats, cost around $945 one-way. This includes most à la carte offerings as well-- amenity kit (including light bedding), a meal, a drink, a checked bag, and a carry-on bag. Comparably, national and legacy carriers flying the same route (so not low-budget carriers but full-service traditional carriers) were offering an economy ticket at and around the same price.

Who Else Does This?

While ZipAir is the first all-around "basic service" airline to unbundle a true business class, there have been a few airlines that have experimented with similar concepts. Most notably, Emirates rolled out a "Basic Biz" feature in 2019, operating throughout 2021. It appears in 2022, however, that Emirates no longer offers an unbundled business class. There is no mention of it on their current website nor when you attempt to purchase a business class ticket.

Several budget airlines have adapted some form of a premium cabin as well. While not fully lie-flat seats like ZipAir, you can still enjoy a bit of luxury with larger seats and à la carte options for other amenities. These airlines include Singapore Airlines' sister brand, Scoot Airlines, with their Scoot Plus offerings, and most recently, Norse Atlantic Airways, which began operations in Summer 2022, operating transatlantic routes between the United States and Europe.