FCF Uncovers Low-Hanging Inflation-Fighting Fare Fruit

Find out what international long-haul routes are trending below $2,500 R/T for Business Class.

With inflation ramping up, the value of your money is slippery-dipping down. Fares are higher than they’ve been in the last several years on most major airlines. American, Air France, British Airways, Delta, Emirates, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, SWISS, United, and Virgin Atlantic are all trending up to most destinations.

Happy days these are not.

Case in point, check out these Business Class round-trip fares: Los Angeles to Shanghai: $5,091 or Tokyo for $4,182; Chicago to Athens: $5,218; Dallas to Venice: $4,777; Los Angeles to Split: $7,158; Houston to Genoa: $7,837; New York to Prague: $4,205; Miami to Copenhagen: $4,979.

FCF Smashes the Inflation Piñata

While the best fares are typically found on a flash or semi-flash basis, let’s get inflation-fighting with some of the low-hanging fare fruit we’ve found trending around the globe. Use this data about recent and current deals to prepare yourself to jump on these fares when they inevitably dip. Keep in mind the fare freeze strategy to eliminate booking stress.

Africa SAMPLES

This continent intermittently offers a number of sub-$2,500 routes from the U.S., including Accra, Cairo, Dakar, Nairobi, and Nigeria, among others. Here are some examples of recent fares we’ve seen that may vanish as quickly as they appeared:

Accra:  Dallas to Accra on Delta for $2,352, compared to typical published fares of $4,670+.

Cairo: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, to Cairo on Lufthansa/SWISS or United for $2,201 to $2,450, compared to typical published fares starting at $3,000+.

Dakar: New York nonstop and Baltimore or Washington, DC, to Dakar on Delta for $2,461, compared to typical published fares of $6,200+.

Nairobi: New York or Washington, DC, to Nairobi on Lufthansa or United for $2,214 to $2,468, compared to normal published fares up to $6,384+.

Nigeria: Washington, DC, to Nigeria (Abuja) on Lufthansa for $2,500, compared to typical published fares of $3,577+.

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Asia SAMPLES

ZIPAIR, which is owned by Japan Airlines, is offering nonstop Los Angeles-Tokyo flights starting at $1,628 round-trip. Both outbound and return flights are running daily through March 18, 2023. We already told you about the pros and cons of ZIPAIR here.

With typical Business Class fares to Asia usually in the $5,000+ range, we’ve been able to find some gems under $3,000. For example, fares to Jakarta, Indonesia, from New York are going for $2,618 on American or Japan Airlines.

Europe SAMPLES

Here are some recent flash and tactical fares that may still be available. But these fares won’t last, so the time to book is now.

Rome: On Delta from San Francisco we have recently seen fares as low as $2,291. That’s a steal for a flight from the West Coast, considering New York departures typically start at $4,100+.

Santorini: Iberia from Washington, DC, goes for $2,432 for travel August to October and April to June. Compare to regular published fares typically starting at $3,400+.

London: Fares from Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, New York, Pittsburgh-London to Heathrow and Gatwick airports have recently been in the $1,849 to $2,475 range for travel December to June on Air France, American, British Airways, Iberia, TAP, JetBlue, and KLM. Compare that to $4,696+ from Detroit and Pittsburgh on Delta and United.

Frankfurt: Singapore Airlines Business Class fares from New York nonstop to Frankfurt go for $2,244 for travel November through June departing Mondays through Thursdays. Otherwise, you’re looking at $2,700 to $3,200. Also, there are many connecting routes with Star Alliance partners for under $3,000.

Lisbon: We’ve seen low fares on TAP in Business Class from Boston to Lisbon around $2,337 for travel September to June, otherwise fares range from $3,100 to $3,600.

Frankfurt or Copenhagen: Fares from Boston on TAP can be had for about $2,100 to $2,200 for travel October to June, otherwise regular published fares are in the $3,000+ range.

Paris: Fares from Chicago or Washington, DC, on TAP go for $2,266 for travel October to June.

Madrid: TAP from New York to Madrid goes for $2,441 for travel October to June versus $3,800+ on Air France, American, British Airways, Iberia, and United.

Berlin: LOT from Chicago to Berlin goes for $2,406 for travel October to June versus $4,280+ on Air France, Lufthansa and United.

Amsterdam: United from Charlotte to Amsterdam goes for $2,470 for travel November to June versus $3,900+ on Air France, American, British Airways and Iberia.

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Middle East SAMPLES

The best fares to this region have been to Dubai, as low as $2,223. Istanbul has also been as low as $2,139.

Dubai: Fares on Air Canada, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United from Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, go for $2,223 to $2,447 versus $4,386 on Air France, American, and British Airways.

Istanbul: Depart from Washington, DC, for $2,139 versus the typical published fare of $2,955+.

Kick Those High Fares to the Curb

Inflation (and the airlines) are keeping fares sky high. But here are some strategies to kick those high fares to the curb — if you act quickly to lock in-today, gone-tomorrow deals.

1. FCF’s flash fares are where you start, and hopefully finish. There’s plenty of gold there.
2. The ability to upgrade continues even after you’ve bought a ticket, as reported here and here. First Class airficionados can reap the benefits too, as seen here and here.
3. A “fare hold” means you can freeze a good deal long enough to see if the dates work out for a trip. You can buy and hold tickets on different days with different airlines to see what works best, without the worry of cancellation fees. More here: Hold Your Fare, Not Your Breath: A Look at 2022 Fare Lock-In Policies
4. Some airlines offer “travel fee waivers,” including for award flights. That means it won’t cost you anything to cancel or change your ticket. Read more about it here.
5. When booking, check for refundable fares for the same cost or just a little more. It means you can make a change later. We’ve written more on that here and here.
6. Thanks to Amex’s International Airline Program (IAP), you can save hundreds of dollars (and sometimes even thousands) on premium fares on 26 airlines.
7. A Star Alliance strategy we call the Destination Double Down works for those traveling to Asia who’d like to visit Europe for free or even less than free. Or, for those heading to Europe who would like to visit Asia for free. It’s the play that gets you to an extra world-class destination for barely any additional cost. Read about it here.
8. If you’re on a budget, why pay for a lie-flat seat when you’ll be working on your laptop? You can fly Premium Economy one way, and Business Class the other (when you do need to sleep). FCF has covered this strategy using normal published fares, here, here, and here, and found opportunities by mixing cabins with American, Delta, and United to Europe here.
9. If you dream, then plan, then buy your ticket, you’re going about it the wrong way! See how opportunity opens up when you flip your thinking, as evidenced right here in this special report.
10. Travelers often go for the easy option, or the one they’ve done so many times before, but that can hold you back. Our philosophy is to be an “opportunity traveler.” We show you why and how right here.
11. FCF’s Fishing for Fares special report shows you how to reel in super fresh Business Class fares.