---
title: "What is Aircraft type? | Benefit Systems"
description: "Aircraft type is the model operating a flight, and it determines seat layout, cabin fit and therefore what the journey is actually like."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Aircraft type?

Aircraft type is the model operating a flight, and it determines seat layout, cabin fit and therefore what the journey is actually like.

Also called: Equipment.

## How it works #

Airlines may swap the type until shortly before departure, which changes seat assignments, cabin fittings and occasionally removes an entire class. The planned type appears in the booking and in flight data, but it is not a promise. Anyone booking for a particular seat checks the type again the day before rather than trusting the display at the time of booking.

## Not to be confused with #

Aircraft type is not the same as cabin class: the identical type can be fitted out completely differently by two airlines.

## In German #

The German term is Flugzeugtyp. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/flugzeugtyp)

## Related terms #

- [Cabin class](/en/glossary/cabin-class): Cabin class is the physical section of an aircraft, economy, premium economy, business or first, each with its own seating and service.
- [Hard product and soft product](/en/glossary/hard-and-soft-product): Hard product means the physical fittings of an aircraft or hotel, while soft product means the service, catering and staff experience.
- [Seat pitch](/en/glossary/seat-pitch): Seat pitch is the distance from one point on a seat to the same point on the seat in front, used as a proxy for legroom.

## Articles that use this term #

- [How do you find out which aircraft you’ll get?](/en/knowledge/finding-your-aircraft)
- [What does “business class” actually mean?](/en/knowledge/what-business-class-means)
- [Why seat pitch matters more than the cabin name](/en/knowledge/seat-pitch)
- [What is a fare class and why does it decide everything?](/en/knowledge/fare-class)
- [What happens when your bag doesn’t arrive?](/en/knowledge/delayed-baggage)
- [How long do you have to report damaged luggage?](/en/knowledge/damaged-baggage-deadlines)