I have flown business class on Qatar Airways, Jordanian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Austrian Air, British Airways, Jet Blue, American Airlines, and others for less than full fare. I am tenacious and crafty when it comes to finding discounted airfares from business class to long-haul economy. Finding cheap airfares can be a bit of a challenge, but with some strategies and tools, you can often find great deals. While last-minute deals can occasionally be found, generally, booking 1-3 months in advance is best, or even earlier if possible.
There are two things you’ll need in order to go through this process – patience and organization. I have literally spent two full days looking for the perfect flights (usually business class) so don’t think this is going to be quick. It takes a lot of time and searching.
Here are the steps I use to find the best airfares:
1. Use private browsing mode or Incognito – Some sites use cookies to track your searches and may increase prices based on demand. Using a private browser doesn’t track your searches.
2. Use multiple search engines and aggregators – you’ll need to have multiple tabs open so get organized. I often take screenshots of flight options and I also write them down so I can compare them to others I find. My favorite sites to look at concurrently are:
- Google Flights which lets you search prices by date, so if your dates are flexible, you can pick flights on the cheapest dates.
- Kayak lets you search using flexible dates one to three days before and after, and they put everything into a calendar for you so it’s easy to see options. Kayak also lets you track fares and will notify you when the fare changes.
- Individual airline sites but you’ll need some sense of the airlines that fly your route. I rarely find cheaper flights on the company websites but it does happen, especially if you have points. I have points on American Airlines and searched a period of five days for business class to Barcelona and found one day with very low points so I grabbed it. I’ve heard of people finding errors on airline sites too that have ridiculously low fares.
- Use discounter sites like Secret Flying and Airfarewatchdog. These sites often list error fares, which are mistakenly low prices that airlines sometimes publish.
3. Search from your home airport but set up separate searches using the biggest major hub near you. I live near Jacksonville, Florida but it’s a small airport so I always have to connect. I often check flights from Orlando (2 hours away) and Miami (5 hours away) because if I can save several hundred bucks, it’s worth traveling to another airport (of course you have to factor in parking and/or hotel costs if necessary). I often do most searches for major overseas trips from New York. I can always find a cheap flight or use points to get to New York. A significant portion of a fare can be connecting out of your home airport so always start with the hubs.
4. Pay attention to which airlines fly to your destination and look at different routing options on those airlines. For example, while looking for a flight from New York to Abu Dhabi, I discovered that Turkish Airlines had a decent fare that connected through Istanbul and then I learned that the airline was running a promo that offered a discounted fare if you spent one night in Istanbul (I spent three lol). For a current search I’m working on to Nairobi, United partners with Lufthansa to fly through Frankfurt so I’m playing with different flights on United that connect through Newark to see if I can get an upgrade.
5. Be flexible with dates and times. This is kind of obvious and it’s no secret that airfares are generally higher on certain days. That’s why you want to cast a wide net and search multiple days around the day you want to travel. Typically, flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays can be cheaper. Red-eye flights are also often less expensive.
6. If you find an unbelievable deal, grab it! Most airlines have a 24-hour cancellation clause (double check) if you find a better deal. I can’t tell you how many times I found an amazing deal and kept searching but went I go back, that deal was gone. Keep in mind that airline algorithms are constantly changing.
7. Set price alerts. Most flight search engines and apps allow you to set alerts for price drops on specific routes. This way, you can book when the price is at its lowest.
8. Use airline miles and points. I can’t tell you how much money I save each year using points. I have the Chase Sapphire card and put everything on that card. I generally get two free international flights a year using points. It’s definitely harder to use airline miles programs these days but if you can swing it, choose one airline and fly them whenever possible. Watch for double point opportunities on them as well. I generally use my airline points these days to reach airport hubs.
9. Subscribe to airline fare program sites and other travel sites that advertise reduced fares. There’s Daily drop, the Points Guy, Going, and CheapOAir. Airlines often have flash sales, and holiday promotions, and subscribe to airline newsletters to stay informed about special offers. Follow airlines and travel deal accounts on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for real-time deal alerts.
10. Check one-way fares. I’ve never found these to be cheaper but you can always try. When I fly internationally, I prefer a lie-flat seat on the way so I can wake up refreshed, but I don’t care as much on way back (since I’m going home). So I have booked a business class seat one way and economy seat on the flight home.
11. Bid for upgrades. Some airlines allow you to bid for an upgrade from economy to business class. If successful, this can be a cost-effective way to enjoy business class. I once flew Qatar Airways business class for $250. I had an economy ticket but used the website to bid for an upgrade. You can generally choose how much you’re willing to spend (and the site will give you a guide). Some airlines offer the ability to upgrade from premium economy to business class for a lower fee than upgrading from economy.
12. Walk away. If you can’t find a fare that works for you, walk away, clear your browser, and start over again another day. Remember those airline algorithms change by the minute so if you don’t find the fare you’re looking for, look again later and you might be surprised.
Remember, it’s not necessarily quick or easy but I promise you if you follow these steps, you’ll be able to find better fares. I would love to know if any of these strategies work for you. Happy travels!