Business class on an international trip sounds like a dream: extra legroom, better meals, priority boarding and lay flat seats. So, the steep price tag? Not so dreamy. The good news is, you don’t have to pay full fare to reside in all that comfort.
If you can be just a little bit flexible and apply a few smart strategies, you can book business class flights for a fraction of the price. This guide will teach you how to fly in style on any trip, whether you’re taking a vacation, a work trip or doing it for yourself.
Be Flexible with Your Travel Plans
Flexibility is your best friend if you’re serious about scoring a deal on business class. If you are planning to fly, start there and avoid peak travel seasons. Instead, go during shoulder seasons like spring or fall when fewer people are traveling and airways are more likely to sell you at a discounted rate. It also matters which day you fly.
Travelling mid week seems to be cheaper, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It also helps to be open about which airport you find yourself flying in or out of. If you fly, at times, even a few hundred bucks, you can save by flying into a city in the next country over and taking a short local flight or train. But also don’t forget to play around with your travel dates. Even moving your trip a day gives you big savings. You may be surprised when you use flexible date search tools to find the cheapest options.
Use Points, Miles, and Reward Programs
There’s one easy way to fly business class without breaking the bank: using points and miles. Even if frequent flyer isn’t your thing, you don’t need to be one to get the most out of this: sign up for a travel credit card. Big sign up bonuses on cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum and Capital One Venture can easily get you a one way or a round trip business class ticket.
As soon as you get a card, start using it for regular spending (groceries, gas, dining) and you will start racking up points. A lot of cards also allow you to earn a little bit extra if you shop through airline dining or shopping portals.
At the same time, there are some routes where you redeem points that provide amazing value, during off peak times or airline promotions. Some airlines let you buy miles at a discount during special sales — and if you’re a little short, that might just be the deal for you!
Use Deal Alerts, Fare Tracking Tools, and Specialized Websites
For those trying to get a good business class deal, you’ve got to keep an eye on the prices but luckily there are tools that will do the hard work for you. First things first: use sites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Hopper or Kayak to set up fare alerts for your chosen routes.
If you don’t have these tools and product prices happen to drop for whatever reason, you’ll never know. In addition, you should be signed up for newsletters from deal sites like Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), Secret Flying or The Flight Deal.
Along that way, they often see mistaken fares, i.e. super low price offers that airlines publish for a while at mistake. These deals don’t stick around for very long, so book now, although they are often honoured. Tools like ITA Matrix or ExpertFlyer can help you go down a rabbit hole and dig a little deeper if you’re willing to do so, uncovering less known routes and sometimes better availability down those routes. With the right setup, you’ll be able to see deals before most people even know they exist.
Consider Upgrade Strategies Instead of Booking Direct
One trick is to ask if you can get an economy ticket that upgrades (some low price tickets don’t) or just check the details carefully. Get your ticket, then see if you’re able to use miles or points to upgrade your ticket. Often, you’ll find that airlines like United, American or British Airways may let you use fewer miles for upgrading than you would to purchase a full business class ticket.
You can even purchase a bid for an upgrade from some airlines, you select a price, they accept and you’re flying in style. Cheaper than you think. If you’re in one of an airlines’ loyalty programs, you may be offered automatic upgrades or priority.
Work with Travel Agents and Business Class Deal Brokers
Especially in the case of premium travel, travel agents can have access to special discounted rates, known as the consolidator fares which aren’t available to the general public. They also build creative routes by combining two or more airlines for bigger savings on international business class tickets. If you don’t mind looking for yourself, you can pick BusinessClass.com or SkyLux Travel.
They specialize in discounted premium fares and can sometimes beat bargain fares you’ll find on regular travel search engines. Read reviews, make sure that the company is legit and feel comfortable with the service they have. Working with a pro doesn’t have to cost you too much; in fact, doing it right can save you time, headaches and money
