AirAmericaC46 From United States, joined Mar 2004, 590 posts, RR: 2 Posted (4 years 12 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1049 times:
This is a survey for the Top Three Ways on how to get a cheap Business/First Class Seat for 2005:
1. There was an article in Wall Street Journal recently that describes how one can get a super cheap seat on a Business Class. Some international airlines with a fifth freedom right on certain routes usually have business class fares even cheaper than the economy class fares of the common airlines on that route. Example is Kenya KQ on BKK-HKG route with the business class much cheaper than the economy fares of both CX and TG. Any other airlines that offer cheap business class/first class on fifth freedom routes?
2. cheapflights.com
3. Use frequent flier miles to upgrade question:
Are there differences in how many miles are required to upgrade from an economy fare comparing the following 4 time factors?:
a. upgrade with miles at least 3 weeks before departure
b. upgrade with miles 1 day before departure
c. upgrade with miles at the time of check-in
d. upgrade with miles at the gate as a stand-by
Thank you for all your answers and for participating in this survey. I will try to re-post this thread by December 2005 for new members and for the ever-changing trend of civil aviation industry.
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom (England), joined Oct 2004, 3415 posts, RR: 34 Reply 1, posted (4 years 12 months 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1011 times:
Usually upgrading with miles is the same whenever you do it. With British Airways their policy is you can upgrade with miles 21 days before the flight (pending availability), although upgrading from economy you have to buy a Y,B,H fare class ticket which is often three times the price of the cheapest ticket. All the other ways you mention with regard to upgrading with miles are new to me...although I don't know the ins and outs of FF programmes beyond BA and LH.
PS. Wasn't aware of fifth freedom rights way around getting cheap tickets although this does severly limit your choice of routes and airlines.....why would you want to fly Kenyan anyway? Their J seat is probably not much better than many decent airlines Y seats, as usually happens with Third World airlines...
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Aerofan From United States, joined Aug 2004, 1484 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (4 years 12 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 941 times:
Why would I want to tell you how to get a cheap business class fare? I work for an airline. THis is how I get paid. You and everyone buy cheap business class fares and I may soon find myself out of a job. I say you should go out there and buy the most expensive one possible
RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5627 posts, RR: 27 Reply 3, posted (4 years 12 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 957 times:
I don't really understand your question. Using upgrades is definitely the cheapest way to get into business or first, but not all airlines have that option. The only way I have found to get cheap premium cabin tickets is to buy tickets through a consolidator.
Aerofan, I know you were being sarcastic but I am sorry; with the margin that airlines get on business and first, isn't really all that fair to tell people to not get cheap business tickets. Everyone knows that economy tickets are sold for cheap, but premium cabins usually aren't since there aren't that many discount services for them and prices are not as competitive. People usually care what airline they fly in business or first, so they will pay higher fares for certain service in the form of a preferred service level, direct connections/nonstops or mileage programs. It is perfectly fair to go for a cheaper business class ticket through upgrades or consolidators so that you are not subsidizing economy passengers. Airlines might make their money with the seats up front, but it is their own fault for offering super discounted economy. They could always do a LH/Privatair deal with only premium cabins.
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