FRANKFURT (dpa) – The age when managers always travelled in Business Class is over. But many of them will have found the switch to Economy Class because of the global economic downturn a difficult one. Airlines have reacted by offering an ever growing range of alternatives to the two classes such as Economy Extra or Premium Voyager that promise ''a little business'' at no great extra cost.

The classes between Economy and Business are an invention of the past 10 years. British Airways, United Airlines, Air New Zealand and SAS were the first to introduce them but in the meantime Air France and even holidaymaker airlines such as Condor have joined the club.

A look at figures published by United Airlines gives an indication of just how many travellers have made the switch to Economy Plus because of the crisis. The number of bookings for Economy Class rose 25 percent between January and August this year in comparison to the same period in 2008, says airline spokesman Werner Claasen.

What can passengers travelling in these new classes expect and how much do they cost? Here's a quick overview:

More legroom: The first thing you will notice is the distance between seats. Air New Zealand offers the best legroom of between 102 and 104 centimeters. Depending of the type of plane that means between 15.6 and 22.7 centimeters more space than in Economy Class, according to the airline's Frankfurt office.

In comparison British Airways has 97 centimeters between seats (18 more than in Economy), Air France also has 97 (15 centimetres more than in its Economy), SAS has 96 (15 more), United Airlines 92 (13 more) and Condor 91.4 (another 15.2 centimeters than in the lower class).

Different service: Passengers in the new classes get a little more service than in Economy but that does not apply to all airlines. Air France and United serve the same drinks to passengers as they give Economy travellers. Air New Zealand on the other hand serves Business Class drinks and food. British Airways and SAS have a three course menu while Condor offers its passengers a ''premium menu.''

Ticket cost: At United the extra charge is between 80 and 120 euros (120 - 180 dollars) per flight and per person. The charge for a World Traveller Plus ticket on a British Airways New York to London plane begins at 648 euros – at least 234 euros more than in Economy Class. A Paris to New York return ticket on an Air France plane in the Premium Voyager class costs 1,038 - 390 euros more than in the regular Economy Class.

Will other airlines follow? There are no indications to suggest other airlines are planning to follow suit, says Martin Gaebges, general secretary of the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany.

He is not expecting the First or Business Classes to die out either.
He believes an upturn in the economy will lead to more bookings in these classes.