Business class often seems so out of reach for the average person, but what if I asked you, the super rich need not apply, catch those first class seats cleverly? And it’s not all that hard to get your travel experience upgraded so you don’t feel like a zombie when you get off the plane. Now we’ll uncover some smart strategies for making that business class dream a reality.
Secret Shopper for Sky-High Deals
Try to see yourself as a detective, stalking the best deals. Airlines aren’t looking to leave any seat empty and they’re certainly not wasting their fancy business class seats.
One cool thing to watch out for are ‘flash sales’ or specially discounted promotions. These will often be announced by airlines to fill seats at the last minute or to deal with slow business. Where do you find them? A great way is to subscribe to airline newsletters. They’ll have these deals straight sent to your inbox, giving you a head start. One final thing: also check out your favourite airlines on social media, sometimes they’ll share hints or even special offers there!
Prices change really fast, that’s another thing to remember. If, however, you see a business class deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. These deals go fast, but if it’s from a reputable airline or travel site, you’ll only be bidding one way. The key to getting a good price is being ready to book when you see it.
Smart Ways to Use What You’ve Got
Most of us have credit cards that give us points or miles. But these aren’t just for free economy flights! These points are often used to upgrade from an economy to a business ticket or to even book a business ticket outright. It’s like a secret travel money stash. To find out how you can use your points for these premium upgrades, check with your credit card company or your airline loyalty program. But sometimes the value you get for your points upgrading to business class can be much better than putting those points toward a regular economy fare.
Think also about bidding for an upgrade. You may be lucky to do this on some airlines if you’ve already bought a ticket in economy, too. A couple days before your flight, they’ll email you asking you what you’d be willing to spend for an upgrade to business class. You stick in how much you’re willing to pay for that comfy seat and if you win you get that seat! It’s a little bit of an auction and can be a really, really great way to get yourself into business class for not nearly what it would normally cost.
Although we aren’t talking about being flexible with your travel dates, there are still smart timing moves to make. And on some days of the week, for instance Tuesdays and Wednesdays, some business class fares are cheaper compared to the peak weekend travel. Airlines do business with a flying clientele that is often based on business, so why not throw a few leisure travelers in on those days when there is less demand?
