What is Booking Class Codes?

Despite the fact that airlines provide cabin class codes in their printed, digital, and online timetables, GDS and CRS reservation systems do not. First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class are the three types of cabin classes. The facilities and level of service vary by cabin class.
 In order to reserve a seat in the right cabin class and at the right fare for a traveler, the reservation agent must select a booking class code. Although a flight may operate a maximum of four cabin classes of service (first,business, premium economy and economy/coach), there may be a string of reservations booking class designators (RBDs) available for each cabin class,simply because there are a variety of air fares offered for travel in each cabin class. Each cabin class code represents where the passenger will sit on board while each booking class code is linked to a published fare.In order to reserve a seat in the right cabin class and for the right fare, it is necessary to interpret booking class codes displayed per flight in travel agency and airline reservation systems.
.Code                    Class
P=First class premium
F=First class
A=First class discounted
J=Business class premium
C=Business class
D=Business class discounted
I=Business class discounted
Z=Business class Economy
E=Premium Economy class discounted
S=Economy/coach
Y=Economy/coach
B=Economy/coach discounted
H=Economy/coach discounted
K=Economy/coach discounted
L=Economy/coach discounted
M=Economy/coach discounted
Q=Economy/coach discounted
T=Economy/coach discounted
V= Economy/coach discounted
X=Economy/coach discounted
You will notice in the table that there are several booking class codes for first,business, premium economy and economy cabin classes. The standard booking class codes are F, C, W, and Y. Aside from premium economy, an airline may offer a separate seating section in first or business class cabin also called “premium class”. Premium type seats are limited and offer extra comfort in terms of seat width and legroom. In other words, a seat in premium first or premium business class will be larger and more comfortable, but it will cost a little more than a regular cabin seat.
Booking class codes are set by the fares published by each airline and each one represents a discount level on the full fare. For example, an airline may use code B for 30% discounted fares, code H for 40% discounted fares, and code K for 50% discounted fares.