If you’re looking to stretch out in a lie-flat seat without spending a fortune on the upgrade, here are your best airline and booking site options. You don’t have to let booking business class drain your wallet. A friendly, no-nonsense guide to getting that extra legroom and gourmet meal for a price you won’t bite your nails over.
Why business class isn’t always out of reach
But let’s be real – first things first, business class tickets aren’t just for CEOs and jet set influencers, they’re a myth that needs to be busted. A longer, intercontinental flight cabin is often equipped with a discount seat to fill. Besides that, the fact that there are so many carriers in play means that flash sales occur more often than you might think. Having a couple of simple strategies tucked away in your back pocket means you can get some really high end upgrades for peanuts.
My top tricks for scoring deals
Sign up for fare alerts
Apps like Google Flights and Skyscanner, and Hopper can be helpful here. You can set alerts for routes and dates of travel you’d rather see more often. You get an email/notification if prices are down so you know immediately, no need to constantly watch.
Play the airline “mileage” game
Enroll for frequent flier programs. During promotions, many airlines allow you to buy miles with a discount. If you find you can top up your account cheaply, via shopping or just banking, you can redeem those miles for a business class award ticket that would cost twice as much cash.
Keep an eye on error fares
Airline prices are notoriously random and every so often they go and publish an insanely cheap price. SecretFlying and The Flight Deal websites keep an eye out for these glitches. If you find one, grab it, because it may fly or they will cancel it, but the odds are good the wait will be worth it.
Why timing is everything
Flights have personality quirks; flights out in the middle of the week or with a late night schedule or off season flights generally have lighter demand. Try to fly on Tuesday or Wednesday, if possible and avoid holiday weekends if possible. For many international routes, booking about 45–60 days prior herald most competitive business class fares. The key is to remember that if you jump in too early you pay full price; if you wait too long, there are no seats left — just “last-seat” premiums.
Flexibility is your secret trick
By moving up your travel plans 1 to 2 days you’ll create all kinds of savings! Search most booking sites for “flexible dates” if you want to see prices over a whole month. Move between the days quickly and you’ll be able to see which days offer the best value. Also, think about airports nearby. So your triumphant return could have been with us all in less than 30 minutes by that comfy seat, for a few hundred pounds less cost!
Read the fine print before you click ‘confirm.’ However, some discounted business fares are not changeable or can be canceled at all, at a fee. If you have your plans set in stone then great, if not be sure to look for cheap fares with small fees or date change for free.
