Once you’ve tried business class on an international flight, it’s not easy to accept a cramped and tight seat again. Having lie-flat seats, tastier food and priority boarding makes all the difference.
That being said, you don’t have to worry. Enjoying a premium flight can be affordable and doesn’t have to cost thousands. If you learn a few secrets, you can still get business class tickets for less.
How Do You Actually Get Business Class for Less?
There isn’t a magic solution that will bring prices down by more than half. Yet, using certain strategies can greatly increase your possibilities of great deals. The following things have been shown to work.
1. Join Airline Loyalty Programs (They’re Free and Worth It)
Basically every airline offers its own loyalty or frequent flyer program for free. If you plan a trip one or two times per year, it’s smart to apply for a credit card. Fly on a plane and you earn miles or points that you can eventually trade to improve to business class or get a ticket of your own.
For instance, suppose you’re a member of the American Airlines AAdvantage program. It’s easy to collect points through flying, their credit card, partners you shop with and when booking hotels. It’s the same for SkyMiles from Delta and MileagePlus from United.
2. Use Points or Miles to Upgrade Instead of Paying Full Price
Now it’s time for the interesting part. After collecting enough miles, you might be able to book a business class ticket for much less than it costs to book business without miles.
You can also move your Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards to partner airline loyalty programs if you have credit card points. A lot of smart travelers obtain economy class tickets by using cash and upgrade with their points.
A Few Other Tricks to Score Better Prices
Even if you haven’t collected a huge amount of points, you can explore alternative ways to travel in business class at a discount.
– Look for mistake fares or flash sales
There are moments when airlines unwittingly put business class prices far below the normal price. Since these fares sell out fast, be sure to follow websites like Secret Flying or The Flight Deal or set up alerts with Google.
– Be flexible with your travel dates
Flying during the middle of the week can save you money compared to the weekends. In addition, traveling from another nearby city can sometimes save you money on your tickets. One way to save money is to fly from Toronto rather than New York.
– Try bidding for upgrades
Several airlines give you the chance to upgrade to business class after you have booked an economy ticket. If you choose a price and it’s accepted, you can fly business class at a lower price.
– Book during low seasons
It might not seem suitable to fly to Europe when it’s cold or to Asia where it’s wet, but business class flights tend to become more affordable then.
You can’t rely on luck alone when trying to get business class flights at low fares; you have to know the tips. If you join frequent traveler programs, collect points and watch for deals, flying can be more enjoyable.
You can benefit from these ideas even if you don’t fly for your job or accumulate miles each month. Investing a bit of your time and planning makes a big difference.
