Send to a friend
Print this tip
Email Sign Up (Free)
Add to del.icio.usHolidays and seasonal inventory are key to Business Class air travel bargains
History shows that if you time your air travel right, you can always find an inexpensive airfare.
Certain airlines have Business Class airfares as low as $900 round-trip to Europe during holiday periods when business travelers tend to stay home. When business travelers don’t fly, airlines often dump Business Class seats at prices that can be less than some coach fares, which are usually in high demand at these times. Look for reduced Business Class airfares on sale from September through November.
If you're not already a First Class Flyer subscriber, click here to receive a FREE TRIAL ISSUE
There are other seasons with excess inventory that can yield inexpensive airfares, but the airlines never publicize this. Always compare economy and Business Class fares during these periods. No airline will clue you in when the latter is lower.
Airlines often have a glut of available seats in summer, so fare wars erupt. Over the last few years, American, Continental, KLM, and Northwest have slashed summer airfares to Europe. Business Class fares were under $1,900 in several markets last year. Fares for summer air travel are usually released from early January through late April.
He who hesitates is lost. If you see a highly discounted published fare, book it, but be sure to check fare restrictions.
This article is adapted from the FlightBliss Special Report Seven Common Air Travel Mistakes to Avoid.
For more techniques on getting Business and First Class upgrades and award seats, along with the latest news on fares and comfort upgrades, subscribe to First Class Flyer.
When reserving to fly Los Angeles - London- Athens and return via Rome and Venice Italy to London, and using ff miles, I am told by American Airlines that British Airways will not accept frequent flyer miles across the Atlantic unless the flight is commenced in Canada. So I remind AA that BA is a co-sharing partner and should honor ff miles but they say that British Airways will not honor across the Atlantic, so I get routed by AA LAX to Dallas to Chicago and Iberia to Madrid and Athens leaving at uncomfortable 6-00am.April 3rd. Can you say whether this correct about British Airways, and if so how can they fail to honor what is claimed to be a co-sharing arrangement.
Actually if you look at the Fine Print on the AAdvantage program. It explains that BA and AA don't co-share on flights between the US and Europe.
Is there any way you can tell how many members are in your level of frequent flier progam? For example, how many gold, silver and platinum elites are there in Northwest's program? Would be nice to know how many people are potentially vying for those upgrades! And, another airline has fewer people in the same level, one might want to switch loyalty!
I would love to know approximately how many are in each tier for various airlines.
I was able to book business class tickets from Detroit to Amsterdam then on to Aberdeen, Scotland with Northwest for August 11th returning on August 25th. Price was $1700 round trip per seat with 60,000 upgrade miles for each ticket. I felt this was a decent price for that time of year. Normally these tickets range in the $6 to 7000.00 range. I booked in early March in order to use my FF miles. Any later date and the possibility exists that FF mile upgrade would not be available.
Have something to say?
Add your insider tip! Your personal experiences are an important part of the FlightBliss knowledge base on flight ratings, the quality of airlines, seats, schedules, mileage programs and fares. Post your comment on this FlightBliss Tip below.