We all love feeling spoiled. It's the most human of traits. Thus, boarding a plane and turning left into the premium section elicits a small boost of dopamine. The space, attentive staff, and the sense of pampering, all ease the apprehension of a long flight. After all, spending hours inside a pressurised tube hurtling along at around 575 mph can be a draining experience. 

Yet, as Covid-19 continues, the sustainability of business and first-class is up for debate. With staff briefed to minimise 'person to person' contact, and many of the frills on hold, what is the attraction of a premium seat? Sure, you get the extra space. But gone are the popping champaign corks or a full English breakfast at 30,000 feet. Instead, all meals arrive on a single tray and forget about having a chat in the galley. Also, the premium seat doesn't mean you arrive quicker or safer. 

The question is, will the premium market survive in the current form or evolve? Are the business and first-class passengers prepared to pay the extra, only to get a bed or legroom? 

It's worth stressing that the premium class seats generate thirty per cent of airline revenues. Each business class seat needs to produce four times the income of an economy seat to justify its existence.

Even though Zoom has seen a massive boost in usage, for business folks, there are intangible benefits that mean they will fly. 'Face to face' contact is essential to allow the detection of those 'infinitesimal cues' of body language. 

In business, those clues are vital to developing trust. Although Zoom preserves some elements of human interaction, it's far from comprehensive. Zoom lacks oomph. That means executives still will feel the urge to get on a plane and meet. Neither does Zoom allow for the socialising element of the business. That's when prospective partners get together to gauge each other in a less formal setting. 

Undoubtedly, placing executives at the front end of the plane de-facto limits their exposure to health risks. At the same time, privacy is also very much a part of the perk, and the ability to work. Whether corporate budgets will be available to cover the cost is a moot point. 

Conversely, you could argue that executive travel is a whole industry on its own. Above all, never discount the snob factor of exclusivity. People clamour to be different or signal their success; by travelling in business and first-class, they tick that box. I expect once Covid-19 recedes, we can expect a strong push to get bums back on those premium seats. Either that or the airlines will need to reconfigure cabins quickly. 

My gut instinct is that business and first-class will remain a feature of post-Covid-19 airlines. For the most part, because it's all about status.