Flying business class doesn’t have to be expensive if you know where to look. Most travelers believe flights in the premium cabins always cost an arm and a leg. But the airlines periodically make discounted fares available through lesser-known channels. From fare error websites to travel agents with exclusive deals, knowing where secret cheap business class flights deals are found can save you thousands of dollars.
From affordable airport lounges to cheaper seats, here‘s where to find the best hidden business class bargains.
- Deal-Finding Websites and Fare Alert Services
Many websites track airfare price drops, including mistake fares and flash sales for business class tickets.
Best Websites for Business Class Deals:
Secret Flying: Posts hidden and mistake fares often with huge savings.
The Flight Deal: Keeps tabs on premium fare sales and airline promotions.
Scott’s Cheap Flights: Sends the customer exclusive premium cabin fare alerts if one buys its elite membership.
FlyerTalk Forums: Discussion of unadvertised business class deals that frequent flyers learn about.
Tip: Turn on price alerts in Google Flights and Skyscanner for real-time notifications when prices drop.
- Airline Loyalty Programs and Frequent Flyer Miles
Most frequent flyer programs have secret business class redemption deals that can be well cheaper than one might imagine in miles.
Best Programs for Discounted Business Class Redemptions:
American Airlines AAdvantage – Off-peak award seats can be significantly cheaper.
British Airways Avios: There are often better redemption rates on partner airlines.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: It occasionally runs business class sales with Spontaneous Escapes.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club: Regularly runs promo Qsuite redemptions cheaper than normal.
Tip: Earn miles using a travel credit card, and check if the airlines have discounted mileage redemption when running a promotion.
- Mistake Fare Websites
Sometimes, airlines publish mistake fares whereby business class tickets can be booked at economy prices. The speed at which these mistake fares get corrected calls for the need for speed.
Best places to find Mistake Fares:
Secret Flying – has a list of fare fares for premium cabin seats.
Airfarewatchdog – notifies subscribers of unadvertised sales.
Hopper App – An AI powered app which predicts fare mistakes and price drop.
Tip: Never call an airline before your mistake fare ticket is confirmed because this may spur them to cancel the deal.
- Business Class Consolidators and Travel Agents
Some travel agencies and ticket consolidators have unpublished business class fares because they bought bulk tickets or obtained corporate contracts for these.
Best Business Class Discount Agencies:
SkyLux Travel – Specialises in discounted premium-class fares.
Business Class Experts – Great business class specials with majors.
Flight Centre Business Class Desk – Occasionally have discounted prices for travel in premium cabins.
Hint: International routes, especially long haul flights, are the best time to make use of consolidators since bulk business class fares are more common.
- Airline Upgrade Auctions
Many airlines offer the facility to bid for a business class upgrade at less than the ticket value of booking the seat outright.
Airlines Offering Upgrade Bidding Facility:
Emirates – bid for empty business class seats.
Lufthansa – “Bid Upgrade” Program for certain flights.
Austrian Airlines & Swiss Air – Send discounted upgrade bids before flying.
Hint: Bid at around a moderate amount, or 30-50% of the regular business class fare to maximise your chances of getting your bid accepted.
- Corporate and Companion Fare Discounts
Some airlines offer companion fares for two passengers to travel in business class for the price of one.
Business Class Airlines with Companion Sales:
Qatar Airways – Has run “Companion Business Class” sales.
British Airways: 2-for-1 deals with the BA Companion Voucher
Finnair: Companion fares occasionally show up-most notably, during their business class sales.
Tip: One of the best ways to find an amazing business class fare, in the case of travel together with a partner, is making use of companion fare sales.
- Booking Through International Websites
Flight prices vary depending upon the country. Sometimes, dramatically cheaper business-class fares can result from making a booking on an airline’s foreign website.
Best Countries for Cheaper Business Class Fares:
India – Overall, international flights originating in India tend to be cheaper.
Brazil & Argentina – Some fares will be cheaper, in particular when booked in local currency due to fluctuations in currency.
Hong Kong & Thailand – Regional fares in premium cabins can often be much lower.
Tip: Before booking use a VPN to check out flight prices originating from different countries.
- Premium Economy to Business Class Upgrades
It’s often the case that buying a premium economy ticket and upgrading to business later is cheaper than booking business class in the first instance.
Best Airlines for Upgrading Premium Economy:
Singapore Airlines-Upgrading discounts featured 48 hours before flying.
Lufthansa-Premium economy passengers are allowed to bid for business class.
ANA-All Nippon Airways- Premium economy passengers have higher upgrade priority.
Tip: Always book a flexible premium economy fare to increase upgrade chances.
- Last-Minute Business Class Deals
Airlines hate flying with empty premium seats, so last-minute upgrade offers can be an incredible bargain.
How to Find Last-Minute Business Class Upgrades:
Check the website for upgrade offers 24-48 hours before flying.
Sometimes, ask at the check-in counter, as many airlines, especially at the airport, give deep discounts.
Use the airline’s mobile apps, since upgrade options are more often shown while checking in.
Tip: If your flight is not full, be the last to check in; this works because some airlines do upgrades based on availability.
Final Thoughts
Scoring secret business class flight deals is all about knowing where to look and being prepared to pounce when opportunities pop up. You can fly first-class for cheap by tracking mistake fares, using travel reward programs, or making bids on flight upgrades.
Use these tactics to fly first-class on the cheap. Happy travels!
