May 31, 2022
How to Fly Business Class for Less
As the international travel markets recover, we at CEOFlights are seeing increasing demand for first and business class seats. Thus, we wanted to offer you some tips on how to experience the luxury of a business class cabin for a lot less than you might think. So let’s get going!
Flexibility often pays off
If you are not set on a specific date or at least have some flexibility when it comes to the timing of the flight, you may be surprised at the savings potential. In a way, it is often best to actually book the flight and then start planning other activities around the flight as opposed to leaving the booking for last – at that point, you may have to pay up for the business class experience. Of course, it is not always possible, but when you can do so, getting the flight on the calendar early could well pay dividends and leave more money in your pocket to enjoy the destination!
Also, you may consider flying into a different airport that still is close to your final destination and serves your travel plans. In densely populated areas with multiple airports in a reasonably close proximity such an approach is often an option – even the same airline may fly into different nearby airports at much better prices!
Timing matters
If you are a patient traveler, you can wait for business tickets to go on sale – airlines do have “specials” and the best way to find out about these deals is to subscribe to their newsletters. It will help further if you are a frequent flyer and have a “status” with the particular airline or airline alliance – you are likely to get an early look at discounted airfares.
Also, many U.S. airlines tend to publish their fares late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The market often reacts quickly and fares get adjusted across the board. Thus, Tuesday afternoon U.S. East Coast time is often when you are likely to have more airfare options to choose from.
Consider off-peak travel options
Of course – this is a personal decision and may not work for everyone, but visiting destinations while demand is lower may offer opportunities for better value business class tickets!
Another benefit while traveling during off-peak season is that you are likely to beat the crowds and will be able to enjoy more of the local amenities in a less crowded environment. For instance, traveling to South America during the fall season may be a good idea – you will be able to take advantage of still warm weather while enjoying much better prices on everything ranging from tours to hotels.
Keep in mind that seasonality is different for every destination and make sure you are comfortable with the weather and local offering at the chosen time. As always, it comes down to personal preferences!
Be on the lookout for error fares (yes, it actually happens!)
To put it simply, it is exactly what it sounds like – an error in the business class ticket pricing. While reasons for this vary, usually it comes down to the good old human error or a technical IT glitch at the airline.
Unfortunately (or fortunately!) this often involves pure luck! If you are a patient traveler and check out the airline and major travel websites frequently, you might stumble upon a hidden business class gem. If you are in luck, then the trick is to snap it up immediately – otherwise the fare might be gone quickly to another savvy traveler or someone at the airline might notice the error, prompting removal of the cheap business class flight.
Does this all sound complicated and overwhelming? With a good amount of preparation and an element of luck, you should be able to score excellent business class deals.
Also, do not forget that our friendly Personal Travel Managers are on a standby and will be happy to talk to you about your travel plans. Give one of our friendly Personal Travel Managers a call today at (888) 851 6897 and find out for yourself! Happy travels!
