A lie-flat airplane seat might seem like an out-of-reach fantasy, but snagging a premium cabin ticket is actually more attainable than most people realize.
On rare occasions, you might find a business class ticket listed at a price you can stomach but they're hard to find.
There are more realistic ways to get beyond that mythical curtain, however. As a frequent traveler who has flown all around the globe—and sometimes in first or business—I've used several strategies to book premium-class flights for far less than the standard ticket price.
Some methods require a bit more research and planning, while others come down to knowing where to look and a bit of luck. Here are the strategies that have worked for me, without spending a small fortune.
In this article
Invest in a Flight Deals Subscription
Flight prices fluctuate daily and most of us don't have time to monitor these changes on a regular basis.
But the good news is, many subscriptions exist that can do that work for you. Some are even tailored to finding premium cabin fares specifically.
Companies like Thrifty Traveler Premium and Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) both have paid tiers within their subscription model that send not only overall good flight finds, but more specifically, deals on business class fares, straight to your inbox.
I’m a Thrifty Traveler Premium subscriber, so I'm set up to receive alerts on first, business, and premium economy class flight deals headed to anywhere in the world, as part of my subscription tier. And I still receive economy sales, too.
As a result of my membership, I once snagged a round-trip United Polaris (United's international business class) ticket from Newark to London for under $1,500.
I highly suggest this route if you're someone with flexibility in your day-to-day life, who is game to jump on a great deal.
Transfer Credit Card Points and Miles
If you carry a premium travel rewards credit card, points and miles are another strategy that can help you score a business class ticket for less.
Long-haul international routes are often where redemptions deliver the most value, and business class can be a real sweet spot.
One way to do this is to take a credit card with transferable points or miles, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture Rewards, or Capital One Venture X, and transfer your rewards to the partner airline you wish to book.
In most cases, your points will carry more value than if you were to use them to book a business class flight through your credit card issuer’s designated travel portal. Credit card companies or the airlines themselves also sometimes offer transfer bonuses to incentivize cashing in, which adds a lot of value you wouldn't find if you just redeemed miles direct with an airline.
One important caveat: always confirm award seat availability before transferring points or miles to an airline partner, since some transfers aren't instant and most aren't reversible. Award seats can be limited, so you want to make sure there's a seat available to book.
Also know that you’ll be responsible for paying taxes and fees, so it won’t be 100% free. Costs vary significantly by destination, route, and airline, so research these costs in advance to avoid a costly surprise.
As an example, I booked a round-trip business class ticket from the United States to Europe for about $160 in taxes and fees, after transferring 100,000 credit card points from the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card to United Airlines.
Look Out for In-App Upgrade Offers
Another option to snag a business class seat is to upgrade your existing airline ticket.
Many times, an airline will offer in-app offers after you’ve booked to upgrade your fare for cheaper than it might have cost during the initial booking process.
To see if this is an option for you, after booking an economy ticket, log into your airline's app to check whether upgrade offers are available for your reservation.
Most U.S.-based airlines like United or Delta, for example, display in-app offers when unsold business class seats are available. Pricing is dynamic, so the rate you see today may look very different from what appears next week, so it’s wise to check back fairly regularly if this is an avenue you’d like to explore.
It paid off for me when I monitored in-app upgrade offers daily for several weeks before a long-haul flight from the United States to South America. Days before departure, the upgrade price dropped to $655, which was down from more than $1,500 a week prior.
Sometimes, when airlines are motivated to fill unsold premium seats, this approach can really work in your favor. It takes a minute to check, and it could be the easiest upgrade you ever get.
Bid for an Upgrade
In addition to in-app listed offers, many international carriers like Air Canada, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, SAS, and TAP Air Portugal allow passengers to bid for seat upgrades.
Typically, this means offering an amount of money for an unsold seat in the next cabin class above what you booked, such as premium economy or business class.
If you’re eligible, and your airline participates in this type of process, you’ll usually receive an email or in-app alert some time after booking an initial ticket inviting you to place an upgrade bid.
To do so, you’ll be invited to enter an amount you feel comfortable paying and submit your payment details. If your offer is accepted, your card will be charged, and your initial ticket will be upgraded. Most airlines notify passengers with accepted bids 24 to 48 hours before departure.
However, be realistic. You won't score a $20 upgrade on a business class ticket no matter how empty the cabin remains. There's usually a minimum bid that varies by airline, route, and seat availability. But most airlines are motivated to fill empty seats, so travelers who submit reasonable bids have a chance of their bids being accepted.
For example, I won a business class upgrade with a $90 bid on a six-and-a-half-hour flight from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines.
The Shortcut
You don't have to be wealthy or an elite-status flier to fly business class .
There's more than one way to score a lie-flat seat, and some of them start with an economy ticket.
Airlines have more incentive than you might think to get passengers into unsold premium seats at a discount.
