Combine fare classes for a taste of luxury
Most of the questions I get from airfare shoppers involve how to find the cheapest deals possible. But not everyone’s happy with bare-bones fares which may include a connection or two, or flying overnight or at dawn. So then I’m asked how to get a deal with some frills and here are some answers.
1. Combine classes: Book one leg of a trip in economy class, and the other in first or business class. A recent Aer Lingus sale offered such deals with an economy flight to Ireland — when folks are fresh and rarin’ to go — and a luxury flight home when travelers are worn out from all that vacation fun. Shoppers can easily put together such flights; here’s an example of round-trip flights in July for Los Angeles-New York on a major airline.
- Economy only: About $600
- First class only: About $4,000
- Economy + first: About $2,100
Tip: Use miles whenever possible to further cut the cost of an economy + first trip.
2. Fly cheaper days: If you want to cut costs in coach class, a standard rule is to fly less popular days; this can work in premium class, too. Just remember that the cheaper days to fly domestic are usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, while Friday and Sunday are usually the most expensive. Here’s an example of first-class round-trip fares in July for Chicago-San Francisco, again on a major airline.
- Fly Friday/Sunday: $1,000
- Fly Tuesday/Tuesday: $929
3. Fly discount airlines’ upper class: Some of the self-styled “ultra discount” carriers have a premium service (or at least bigger seats) which gives travelers a better experience for a less. WOW Air’s business class does not offer lie-flat seats but it does give its passengers free bags, free meals, early boarding and more legroom. Here’s how the costs break down on a September flight from Boston to Dublin:
- Economy round-trip: $450
- Business class only: $862
- Economy + business combo: $656
In this case, the business-class fare is not that much different from other airlines’ economy. Only you can say if the extra money is worth a little luxury.
FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney is an airline industry insider and top media air travel resource. Follow Rick (@rickseaney) and never overpay for airfare again.