Shorter, less convenient routes cost less, and longer nonstop routes cost more. And lower prices meant a lower standard of service. Eventually, the cheaper priced shorter flights were dubbed coach — either referring to stagecoach rides with a lot of stops, or the coach car on trains that didn't offer any amenities.

The term "coach" as a synonym for economy class in aviation is a linguistic holdover from the era of stagecoaches and early rail travel. Historically, "coaches" were the basic, multi-passenger carriages that transported large numbers of people in relatively cramped conditions with few amenities, contrasted with private "carriages" or "first-class cabins." When the airline industry began to expand in the mid-20th century, carriers adopted the term to describe the lower-priced section of the plane that sat behind the luxury of first class. While airlines have largely transitioned to the more aspirational term "Economy Class" in their official marketing to avoid the negative connotations of the "coach" (which implies a lack of status), the word remains a standard part of American English. In other parts of the world, such as the UK and Europe, the term is rarely used in aviation, with travelers preferring "Standard" or "Economy." However, in the U.S., "flying coach" remains the universal way to describe sitting in the main cabin.