The Best Time to Buy First-Class Airline Tickets

Tips for saving money when flying first class

Reviewed by Thomas BrockReviewed by Thomas Brock

Every now and then you need first-class airline tickets. Maybe you’re off on a business trip and the boss is footing the bill—or you need extra comfort for an older relative’s flight. Or perhaps you’re celebrating a special occasion and flying first class will make it even more special. Whatever the reason for flying first class, you know you’ll pay—and pay big—for the superior service, free food, and roomy seats in first class.

Quick example: A round trip on American Airlines from New York City to Los Angeles in May (Thursday to Thursday) costs about $500 for an economy seat, but the same flight in first class is about $1,200. If that sounds wild, a one-way first-class seat on one of the most luxurious commercial airlines, Emirates, from New York to Dubai is over $15,500 USD.

Maybe you’re going to go ahead and indulge, but why overpay? These ideas will help keep costs down.

Key Takeaways

• Booking flights in advance can help with finding the best rates on rates.
• Flying midweek or on Saturdays generally yields lower fare prices while Sundays, Fridays, and Mondays can be expensive flying days.
• At the airport, visit the airline kiosk or gate agent to see what’s available if you’re able to travel on the fly.
• Consider learning about advanced search techniques or using a travel agent that has access to so-called “UP” discounted first-class fares.
• First-class tickets don’t normally give you a break on change fees and can charge about $200 to change or cancel a flight.

Know When to Book

If you want to save on first-class flights, consider booking at least seven days in advance. Some experts say for even cheaper flights, book at least three weeks before the departure date. Many business travelers with last-minute trips can’t do this, obviously, and airlines love this because itineraries booked inside the seven-days-before-departure window can add an up-to-40% premium to the fare. If you can give yourself at least a week’s head-start in the booking process, you may be able to reap significant savings.

Tip

A free service like Google Flight Alerts makes it easy to keep track of fare prices at top airlines so you can take advantage of deals when one comes along.

Know When to Fly

Midweek and Saturdays on some airlines are the best times to fly. Most travelers start their trips on Friday and return by Sunday night or Monday morning. As a result, Fridays and Sundays cost the most, while Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons cost the least.

It’s also worth thinking about the time of day. The cheapest flights tend to be in the early morning or late at night when most fliers don’t want to deal with the inconvenience of traveling to the airport. Midday flights tend to be more expensive, but they may be more affordable around the dinner and lunchtime hours.

The bottom line? It makes sense to compare airfare prices even when shopping for the most expensive tickets.

Check Coach Fares

This sounds counterintuitive but some airlines actually offer first-class seats at a discount during the coach booking process, which can be many times cheaper than searching directly for first-class cabin fares. Some also allow cheaper upgrades at airport kiosks. This doesn’t seem to be happening in phone applications, but likely that is coming soon.

Look for Upgrades

Going after upgrade opportunities could be another money-saver. Many folks upgrade to first-class seats via elite status (and may get lucky, based on rank and/or points or potluck). At the airport, visit the airline kiosk (or gate agent) to see what’s available, even if you have your boarding pass on your phone. You may be offered an upgrade for miles or for purchase at a cheaper rate.

One problem is that miles are getting harder to earn. In recent years, a number of airlines have tinkered with their loyalty program rules so that those who pay the most earn the most. Still, it’s worth a shot to see if you’re eligible for an upgrade. Look soon for cheaper upgrade opportunities on the airlines’ phone apps.

Tip

If you’re not using an airline rewards card yet to earn frequent flyer miles, it could make sense to apply for one to snag extra savings.

A Pro Comes in Handy

Consider learning about advanced search techniques or using a travel agent. Professionals and certain booking tools have access to so-called “UP” discounted first-class fares coded “Y-UP” or “K-UP.” These seats are priced higher than coach seats, but lower than full-fare seats, and seats for UP fares are physically located in first class.

These fares can be cheaper than regular first-class tickets found online, though not as cheap as in years past. The deals have dimmed thanks to massive merger consolidation in the airline industry of the last decade and the ensuing loss of competition. Still, the fares can be a little cheaper.

While these fares may not always be readily visible to the average flyer, a motivated shopper with time on their hands—or a travel professional—can find them when they are available by directing online queries to business/first class.

For those with corporate booking departments: Many large companies have pre-negotiated rates with airlines to save 10-20% off the open market.

Warning

Be careful to check out the aircraft listed for a flight because some smaller aircraft (CRJ, Embraer, etc.) may not have first-class cabins and you don’t want to pay for something you will not get.

What First Class Won’t Get You

Unfortunately, flying first class may not get you a break on change fees. Many airlines offer refundable first-class tickets, but these will tend to cost even more than regular first-class tickets. But, applying for a travel rewards credit card could yield some money-saving perks, including priority boarding, free checked bags, and a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

How Do You Get Free Flight Upgrades?

Although there’s no sure way to get a flight upgrade, there are some tricks to make a free upgrade a little more likely. One way to do so is to join the airline’s frequent flier program since loyal customers tend to be first in line for upgrades. Flying on relatively low-demand flights and arriving early can also help your chances. In addition, airline staff may also be inclined to upgrade people in special circumstances, like flying with a newborn. Above all, be polite to the airline staff.

What Can You Do If an Airline Downgrades You From First Class?

If an airline involuntarily downgrades a passenger from a higher-class seat to a lower-class one, they are required to refund the difference in prices between those two seats.

What Can You Do If You Are Bumped From a Flight?

Airlines often oversell their flights, meaning they may not have enough seats if there are no cancellations. For overbooked flights, airlines may offer money or vouchers to passengers who voluntarily delay their travel. This can be worthwhile, especially for frequent fliers.

If you are involuntarily bumped from your flight due to overbooking, the Department of Transportation specifies the compensation you can claim. Airlines must pay 200% of the ticket price for delays of 1-2 hours, up to $775. For delays over 4 hours, you are eligible for 400% of the one-way ticket price, up to $1,550. This compensation must be offered at the airport on the day that you were denied boarding. Airlines must also provide a written explanation of your rights when you are denied boarding.

The Bottom Line

Although first class travel tends to be expensive, there are some ways to reduce the financial burden and still travel in comfort. Carefully studying flight schedules and airline rules can help you travel first class without necessarily paying the full first-class price.

Read the original article on Investopedia.