First class seats on flights offer luxury and comfort, but can come at a high price. However, there are ways to find discounted and affordable first class tickets if you’re willing to be flexible and do some research. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best tips and strategies for booking cheap first class flights.
Be Flexible on Airlines
The first key to finding affordable first class seats is to be open-minded about which airlines you fly with. Some airlines are known for ultra-luxurious first class products, like Emirates or Singapore Airlines. However, these premium products come at a premium price tag. Expand your search to include both domestic and international airlines that may offer competitive first class fares. Airlines like Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways frequently discount business and first class seats, especially on routes with lots of competition. Avoid fixating on one airline or loyalty program – cast a wide net across different carriers and you’re more likely to find great deals.
Be Flexible on Routes
In addition to considering different airlines, being flexible on departure cities, destinations and connections can unlock substantial savings on first class fares. Look across a wide range of routes, both short-haul and long-haul, to see pricing variances. Airlines will typically discount first class seats on routes with intense competition or lower demand. You may be able to score a deal by originating at a smaller airport instead of the major hub. Connecting flights can also lead to cheaper first class tickets versus nonstop routes. Check both direct and connecting itineraries across different city combinations when searching for the lowest fares. The best first class deals are often found on unlikely routes.
Leverage Miles and Points
One of the best ways to book discounted or free first class seats is using airline miles or flexible credit card points. Most major airlines let you redeem miles for first class tickets, though pricing varies. In some cases, you can score aspirational first class tickets for a fraction of the cash price by using points and miles. Sign up for airline, hotel and credit card loyalty programs to start stockpiling points. Optimize your strategy by focusing on transferable points like Amex Membership Rewards which let you select the best redemption. Setting up alerts on your desired routes can help snag award availability at the lowest pricing. Consider buying miles during bonuses or sales if you’re just shy of booking your dream first class redemption.
Aim for Off-Peak Travel Times
The most expensive first class fares are typically found when demand is highest during peak travel seasons and holidays. Being flexible on your travel dates can yield huge savings on first class seats. For international flights, aim to travel in shoulder seasons like fall or spring versus crowded summer months. Flying mid-week is generally cheaper than weekends too. For domestic first class fares, red-eye flights are often a great value with empty seats. Holiday periods around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will have inflated pricing across the board. Shift your travel plans by a few days or weeks to align with lower seasonal demand for significant savings in first class cabins.
Book Well In Advance
Booking first class fares as early as possible is one key strategy to grab seats at lower pricing. Airlines will initially open up their schedules 330 days in advance and launch seats with discounted rates to stimulate early demand. As you get closer to departure, seats in premium cabins sell out and remaining inventory goes up in price. Try booking your first class seats 6-12 months in advance if your plans are flexible. Setting calendar reminders can help lock in the cheapest advance-purchase fares as soon as schedules open. If you can’t commit that far ahead, even booking 1-2 months out is better than leaving it to the last minute. Act fast once you’ve found your desired first class route and price.
Consider Refundable Fares
Booking fully refundable first class fares can be worth the extra upfront cost in many cases. Though pricier, having the flexibility to get a full refund allows you to lock in seats today while continuing to monitor fares and potentially re-book at a lower price later. Make sure to read fare rules closely as change fees still apply on some refundable tickets. Refundable fares offer peace of mind to secure your preferred first class seats in advance, while leaving options open to rebook and get money back if prices drop. Having a refundable ticket also helps if your travel plans need to change last minute.
Find Error Fares
Savvy travelers know to keep an eye out for error fares – first class tickets priced incorrectly at big discounts lower than normal. Error fares can occur when airlines accidentally set the wrong discounted fare class code or publish the incorrect amount. Sites like Secret Flying collate and share error fare deals that pop up frequently. The key is to spot and book these mistake fares fast before the airline realizes the problem and pulls the cheap first class tickets down. Move quickly if you see unusually and inexplicably low first class fares to destinations matching your plans.
Use Private Fare Search Services
Experts like private airfare search services can leverage insider knowledge and algorithms to uncover cheap first class fares that typical booking sites miss. Companies like Fare Deal Alert offer customized fare search services covering both domestic and international first class cabins. For an annual membership fee, they’ll continuously monitor routes you want and email you when discounted first class fares are found. The savings uncovered often more than offset the search service fees. Alternately, try bidding sites like Optiontown which let you state the price you want to pay for an airline upgrade or cheap first class booking.
Follow Fare Sales
Regularly checking airline sites for first class fare sales is a simple strategy that can yield big savings. Many carriers run weekly or seasonal sales discounting premium cabin fares on select routes. Sign up for airline email alerts and follow their social media feeds to be notified instantly when first class fare sales launch. Act fast once you get wind of a sale, as the cheapest seats get snapped up quickly. Persistence with tracking sales can pay off with dramatic discounts – some first class fares plummet to nearly 50% off or more.
Use a Travel Agent
Experienced travel agents stay on top of the latest industry fare deals and can suggest tips tailored specifically to you to find the cheapest first class tickets. Top agents have access to advanced booking tools and consolidated information that individual travelers don’t. There’s no cost to use a travel agent since airlines pay their commissions. Agents may leverage their relationships and volume discounts to access special unpublished First Class fares unavailable elsewhere. Discuss your ideal routes, dates and budget for an expert take on unlocking big first class fare discounts you can’t find on your own.
Fly Through Hub Cities
Major airline hub cities like New York, London, Frankfurt and Dubai are prime spots to score marked down first class fares, especially when connecting onwards. Airlines will discount premium seats on flights into and out of their hubs in order to fill planes and keep their hub operations running smoothly all day long. Taking advantage of lower demand red-eye flights between hubs is another way to save. Be willing to add a short affordable connection at an airline’s hub city to join into discounted long-haul first class fares.
First Class Fare Tracking Sites
Specialized airfare tracking and alert sites will monitor fares and email you when discounts are found for your desired routes. This allows you to set alerts and wait for deals instead of endlessly searching yourself. Some of the top sites include:
- FareCompare – Tracks 100+ airlines worldwide.
- AirFareWatchdog – Customizable alert options.
- The Flight Deal – International fare alerts.
- Secret Flying – Error and cheap first class fares.
Tips for Booking with Miles
Using airline miles to book discounted or free first class tickets takes some strategizing:
- Aim for off-peak dates when awards are cheaper.
- Transfer points from flexible programs to airline partners.
- Book close-in dates when last minute awards open up.
- Waitlist early to get on cancelled seat lists.
- Book one-way awards when roundtrips aren’t available.
Maximizing Credit Card Rewards
Stacking sign-up bonuses and spending on the right card categories makes it easier to accumulate points for first class awards faster:
Card | Sign-up Bonus | Category Bonuses |
---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Preferred | 80,000 points | 5x travel purchased through Chase |
Amex Platinum | 100,000 points | 5x flights booked through Amex |
Capital One Venture X | 100,000 miles | 10x hotels, car rentals |
Consider an Airline Status Match
Having mid-tier or top-tier airline elite status can unlock access to preferred first class fares and complimentary upgrades unavailable to regular passengers. Research programs that offer fast track status matches to instantly grant you elite benefits with a new airline based on your existing status elsewhere. This lets you enjoy perks like first class discounts without starting from scratch. Matching to top status often requires having proof of equal status on another airline. Compare requirements for airlines like United, American and Delta to see if you qualify for matches to their Gold, Platinum or Diamond tiers.
Fly to a Destination With Cheap First Class
Where you fly to also impacts the first class fare costs. Some regions and specific routes consistently offer lower priced premium seats. Flying to Hawaii on United or American will turn up solid first class bargains. International destinations with budget first class cabins like Bangkok on EVA Air or Amsterdam on any number of European carriers open up cheaper options too. Don’t limit yourself – review fares across a wide span of regions and cities worldwide to reveal surprisingly affordable first class tickets to places you may not have initially considered.
Conclusion
While first class fares often come with sticker shock, there are myriad ways to reduce the costs – you just need to be flexible and resourceful. With minimal effort, it’s possible to find substantial savings on first class seats through points redemptions, off-peak flights, fare sales, price alerts and other tricks. Try these money-saving strategies outlined step-by-step to experience the comfort of first class without overspending your budget.