It just feels rough dropping a fortune on business class tickets. You don’t have to be a millionaire to lie flat on that lying flat seat or sip champagne at 35,000 feet. You don’t need access to any inside travel agency tricks or special traits to score business class deals which sound too good to be true — you just need some basic know-how and a few favorite websites.
Where to find sweet deals
Your first step will be to bookmark a few flight search sites that may have the best chance of finding you a killer fare. Now, think of them as your personal ticket detectives. It’s a solid start: you can simply do quick date sweeps and it will let you know what days are cheapest.
Another favorite is Skyscanner; “Everywhere” will show you the cheapest business class fare to any destination, if you’re feeling spontaneous. Momondo also often digs up hidden offers from smaller agencies you wouldn’t know about. Pull off the exact same route on all of the sites and then pick the winner.
On such sites, sign up for fare-alert emails. Set a target price for your desired route and pin it when a deal comes up. Even better, try downloading apps like Hopper or SecretFlying. They will track the price swings in historical data and nudge you when business class fares drop.
When searching, clear cookies in your browser or do it in a private mode. On some sites, they know whenever you click ‘buy’ and will bump the price slightly for that reason so this little step literally saves a buck or two.
Play the points game
Loyalty programs and credit card points are your new best friends, if you travel a couple of times per year in particular. There are many airlines that allow you to top up a cash fare with miles or points to buy an upgrade, ridiculously cheap in some cases. Make sure your credit card rewards you with bonus points for buying travel and pour those points into an airline alliance that includes your favorite routes. Before you know it, you’ll buy that big-seat experience for a slice of the cash price.
Putting it all together
So here’s the game plan:
- Scout multiple sites – Google Flights, Skyscanner, Momondo
- Set alerts – price-drop emails and deal apps
- Use private browsing – keep fares honest
- Leverage points – upgrade with miles or sweet credit-card bonuses
The longer you have, the better bargains you will get, so give yourself at least six weeks before departure. Fares on business class seats often begin pricey and then dip slowly, so if you see a rate that’s too good to ignore and you’re outside of that six week window then go for it. Waiting too long is a dangerous game, too: Recently, last-minute tech evacuations tend to shoot back up in price.
