A lot of travelers are dreaming of flying business class every time they are going somewhere. Whether it is just out of the country or out of town, who is not fantasizing to travel comfortably? But with the high price of business class seats today, it may be impossible to get the coziest seat on the plane. So here are some tips on how to get business class seats at an affordable price.
Find a good sale
Of course, the best way to discover an affordable business class seat is to spot a good sale. Flight Centre Asia in Hong Kong marketing director Cecilia Yee revealed Cathay Pacific often offers "Vantage Pass" that gives affordable prices for premium classes, per the South China Morning Post.
Middle Eastern airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways also offer great deals that start from HK$16,000 (US$2,030) going to Europe and afar. The latter gives a London to Hong Kong fare for only HK$14,340 (US$1,826) and Manchester to Auckland for HK$13,730 (US$1,749).
British Airways and KLM, too, present some good packages. Dave Smith from AirTravelGenius.com also advised premium class seat sale is often available during holidays like Christmas, New Year, and times when business travel decreases.
Look for 'fifth freedom' routes
Smith revealed Fifth freedom routes is when an airline can carry passengers "between two cities outside its home country." Ticket prices at this time are competitively low to fill in the seats. He said this move is a good way to get a business or first class seat in an affordable price.
Some destinations that often have the big discounts are Hong Kong to Bangkok through Emirates, Royal Jordanian, and Ethiopian airlines. Sydney to Auckland is also part of the list through Emirates and LATAM, Frankfurt to Madrid through LATAM, New York to Vancouver via Cathay Pacific, Singapore to Bali through KLM, and London to New York via Air India.
Online auction
If you think only merchandises could be auctioned, you could also bid for an affordable airfare online. Skyscanner Australia reported you could look for an airline that offers an auction system to its economy passengers to get an affordable premium class seat.
An online auction for an airfare gives passengers the chance to bid for an upgraded seat. However, it is not a sure way to secure yourself of a premium seat, but it can be the most affordable way to get the coziest seat you are dreaming of.
The publication also noted there are a lot of airlines that let their economy class passengers bid for a seat upgrade for an affordable price. If in any case, you didn't win, there is another option to pay a fixed price for an upgrade when you check-in.
