society, flights and classes

[jctgf]

hi,

how do you say in English the levels or status of the society, please?

are them "classes", just like in the flights?

also, are the meanings of the following sentences identical? it seems to me that there's a little but significant difference.

"he's a first class passenger".

"he's a passenger of the first class".

what I mean is that someone may travel in the first class but not to be a "first class" passenger (because of their behavior, attitude, background...) and vice-verse.

what do you think?

thanks.

[Anglika]

"Class" equates to social position: Upper Class, Middle Class, Lower Class, Professional Class, Labouring Class, Underclass. They are thoroughly confused and flexible. There is much argument at present over an actress who claims she is working class, but who grew up in a respectable suburb, had parents in respectable jobs, went to a private school and speaks in an educated way. She is redefining Working Class to suit her own purposes.

Someone who is "first class" implies someone of great probity, intelligence and achievement. It would not normally be used in the way you have suggested, but might be used to refer to a sportsman or someone who has achieved something.

I would avoid using the term unless you are intending to indicate the quality of something: It was a first class performance; They have done a first class job on the redecoration; That company can only achieve second class work as they will not employ good staff.

[jctgf]

thanks.

would it also be unappropriate to use it in a flight?

if I need to qualify a passenger in a flight, how should I do it, please?

"Whose this magazine?
I think that passenger of the first/economic class has just dropped it here"?

thanks.

[Anglika]

That is a description of the ticket rate for the plane - First class - most expensive; Business Class = expensive; Economy Class - the rest of the herd. It is not relevant to the nature of the passengers.

"Whose is this magazine?"
"I think that passenger from First Class dropped it as he went past."

[jctgf]

thanks.

it's very difficult to speak an authentic English.

do you think a native-speaker would never say "I think that passenger of the first/economic class has just dropped it here"?

thanks.

[Anglika]

I doubt very much that they would say that.