How Can I Find Discounts On Business Class Flights?
Whether you’re sitting in business class or crammed in coach, flight tickets are expensive for most travelers. So expensive that the luxury of sitting in a roomy seat with champagne on hand would seem like a pipe dream to the average passenger. The good news is sitting in business class doesn’t have to be just for the one percent.
If you’re savvy and patient enough, you might be able to find these tickets — that usually cost well into the thousands — at a discounted rate. You just have to know where to search, when to book, and what to look out for.
Here are some ways for you to find cheaper business class flights.
Search for Tickets From Online Ticket Brokers
There’s a lot of ground to cover on the Internet when looking for the right deal, so it can be hard to know where to start. If you’re looking for discounted business class tickets, try looking at ticket consolidator websites. These businesses sell plane tickets at lower costs.
When airlines have unsold seats on flights, they go to these consolidators to help fill seats. They don’t directly discount seats on their own websites because they don’t want to be seen as discounting their own fares. That’s why they let the brokers do it for them.
This is good news for the airline who will obtain more passengers on their flight and for people looking for cheaper premium tickets. The discounts vary and you might be able to save hundreds of dollars on a ticket.
Some consolidator websites to check out include:
- Executive Class Travel;
- Alpha Flight Guru;
- Flight Snp;
- SkyLux Travel;
- ITA Matrix, and;
- Last-Minute Business Class.
Make sure to check a variety of websites before booking a ticket and visit the sites frequently to see if prices change.
Take Advantage of Miles and Credit Cards
If you’re not already using a credit card that earns you miles, then you should start doing that as soon as possible. Earning points on purchases is worth it when you’re regularly spending money on bills and expenses.
Travel rewards credit cards not only offer you miles or points that can be used towards flights, but also offer discounted rates on hotels and related travel costs. Moreso, some credit companies offer the gift of free points as incentive to open an account with them. Over time, you can save up enough points to buy a business class ticket completely with points or put them towards upgrading your economy seat.
Some banks have their own travel websites where you can search and book vacations through their own agency. You might be able to earn loyalty points by booking a trip through them or even find discounts on flights that only your bank can offer.
Think of it this way: you’re going to be using a credit card anyway, so why not earn rewards at the same time?
Book Your Flight on Weekends and Holidays
If your goal is to buy cheap business class airfare, then you have to be strategic on when you’re traveling. In fact, airlines get strategic with their ticket prices in order to sell out the flight.
The best time of year to fly at a discounted rate is on holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve. Since most business travelers aren’t flying on these days, it’s when airlines are most likely to have unsold premium seats. As such, this is a good idea for people with flexible schedules.
Weekend flights are another good place to look since business people typically won’t be flying, providing a chance to find some cheap rates.
Talk to the Flight Staff
If all else fails and you decide to settle on a coach ticket for your flight, you can talk to the flight staff and see if there’s anything they can do.
At check-in, ask the attendant if you can be upgraded. It’s not as popular for airlines to offer this anymore, but you never really know what can happen. There’s also a chance they will mention a price you can pay for an upgraded seat.
Another option is to take a quick look at the premium seats once the cabin doors are shut. If you notice any of them are empty, ask the flight attendant if you can move to one. At this point, they can’t sell the seat anymore and might allow you sit there if you’re a pleasant, respectful, and nicely dressed passenger.
Business Class vs. First-Class
Before searching for flights, remember there’s a difference between business class seats and first-class seats on some airlines. Both offer a luxe flight experience compared to coach, but first class ends up being cheaper.
Keep that in mind when researching flights and compare prices for both to see if there are any deals.