Flying business class comes with a number of benefits including comfortable seating, premium meals and drinks, priority check-in and boarding and better overall service. Compared to economy class, it provides a more relaxed and enjoyable travel experience. Though everyone dreams of flying business class, its perceived high cost might make it seem like a luxury reserved for the elite. However, nowadays, there are many ways how you can afford a business class ticket without breaking the bank.
Book in Advance
If you have planned to take a trip two or three months later, it is better to book the flight tickets as soon as possible. Airlines usually offer better deals on business class tickets if you make the booking a few months in advance. You should also keep an eye on the discount offers and make the most of available deals while booking the ticket. Sometimes, advance bookings combined with limited period deals can help you fly business class without spending a fortune.
Get a Travel Credit Card
Lately, travel credit cards have gained popularity for helping people save on their travel expenses in the form of air miles, heavy discount or free tickets. You can find credit cards co-branded with popular airlines like Vistara, Indigo, Air India, SpiceJet and more. Most of these cards would give value-back in the form of air miles, which can be used at the time of booking your next flight ticket to get a substantial discount.
A number of premium travel credit cards offer exclusive benefits on business class ticket bookings, such as Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card, which gives up to 4 free business class tickets from Vistara on reaching certain spending milestones. Some travel credit cards are also co-branded with travel portals and give additional discounts, over and above the existing offers on their platform.
To find the right travel credit card for your needs, you can visit financial marketplaces like Paisabazaar. Here, you can compare multiple eligible offers and choose the one that best matches your requirements. Making optimum use of your travel credit cards, you can fly business class on a budget.
Leverage Airline Loyalty Programs
All popular airlines have their own loyalty (frequent-flyer) programs such as Club Vistara, Air India Flying Returns, Etihad Guest, etc. Being a member of such loyalty programs, you can earn loyalty points with each booking and later use the accumulated points to get your ticket upgraded to business class. If you have enough points, you can also book a business class ticket through their platform by redeeming the points. You must check the expiry dates on your loyalty points and make the most of them before they lapse.
Make Off-season or Off-peak Bookings
Shifting your travel plans to off-peak times can help you save a significant amount as airlines offer more competitive rates on their tickets. For example, most business travellers take trips during weekdays so business class seats might be available on the weekends for a comparatively lower cost. Several tools are available online which can be used to understand when airfare might be lower. Adjusting your travel plans by a few days can help you secure a seat in the business class without paying the premium cost.
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Upgrade at the time of Check-in
If you do not have the budget or enough air miles to purchase a business class ticket at the time of booking, you can consider getting a class upgrade during check-in. Since the online check-in window usually opens 48 hours before the flight’s take off time, you can often get an upgrade at a discounted rate, as the seats might be vacant. Even if you are checking in at the airline counter, you can ask the attendant what they might be charging for class upgrade and take the offer if it falls within your budget.
Check for Deals and Promotional Offers
Airlines as well as popular travel portals keep rolling out offers from time to time. While most consumers find it a marketing tactic, some of these deals are genuinely good and can help you save a considerable amount on your travels. If you grab the right deal, you can even book a business class ticket without exceeding your budget.
With careful planning, flexibility and a bit of strategic thinking, flying business class need not be an unattainable dream. Use the tips mentioned above and elevate your travel experience. If you find business class tickets way out of budget, you can also consider premium economy, which falls between economy class and business class. They might provide more legroom, more comfortable seats, better quality services, etc., but at a comparatively lower cost than business class.
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