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Business-class seats cost much more, but they also offer lots of benefits. Learn about those perks and check out a cheaper way to book business class.
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On international flights, business class is the option above economy class, and there’s quite a difference. Since there are far fewer passengers in business class, you get much more attentive service and more perks. You also pay quite a bit more, with business-class airfare often costing $3,000 to $5,000 per flight.
Some people believe that’s a waste of money. They often make the argument that you don’t get there any faster flying in business class. I’m not one of those people. For me, it’s almost a must for long-haul flights.
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There are several reasons why I feel business class is well worth it. After covering those reasons, I’ll explain how I’m able to book it at a fraction of the regular cost.
1. Lie-flat seats
The biggest advantage of flying in business class is the seating. Many airlines offer lie-flat seats in their business-class cabins, and the difference between that and a regular seat is like night and day.
I’m not one of those people who can fall asleep easily on planes. And honestly, trying to sleep in a standard airline seat is rough. Lie-flat seats are much more comfortable, so they’re better for sleeping or just stretching out during your flight.
This is one reason why I think the argument that you don’t get there any faster in business class misses the big picture. There’s a huge difference between arriving well-rested and arriving sleep deprived with an aching neck.
2. Premium meals and free drinks
Long flights typically include one or two meals in each cabin. But the food quality tends to be much better in business class than in economy. You get premium meal options which have had much more thought put into them, and they’re served with real cutlery, not plastic utensils.
It’s still not going to measure up to a good restaurant. You’re 30,000 feet in the air, after all. That being said, you can have a nice meal flying business class. That’s another part of how it makes your travel experience more comfortable. Free drinks, including alcoholic beverages, are also standard in business class.
3. Lounge access at the airport
A business-class ticket normally gets you access to a lounge at the airport. Lounge quality can be hit or miss, and lounges sometimes get crowded, but it certainly beats the boarding area.
Lounges usually have plenty of seating options, so you can relax before your flight. There’s free food and drinks, and some lounges also have showers, which are a nice way to freshen up before a long flight.
Note that there are also many credit cards with airport lounge access. These are another good way to get into lounges before you fly.
4. Priority check-in and boarding
With most airlines, business-class passengers can use a priority boarding lane at check-in and get to board the plane earlier. This might not sound like a big deal, but it can be.
During busy travel times, check-in lines can get very long. While you can avoid this by checking in online, you might still need to wait in line if you’re checking a bag. I’ve been able to avoid an hour-long wait in line multiple times thanks to the priority check-in lane, so there are situations where it comes in handy.
5. Complimentary amenity kits
Business-class seats usually have a small amenity kit for each passenger. The contents and the quality vary depending on the airline, but they often include:
A sleep maskA small toothbrush and toothpasteEar plugsSoft socksMoisturizerLip balm
It’s nothing you couldn’t pack yourself, but it’s nice not having to worry about it. You can brush your teeth, take care of your skin, and get to sleep, without any extra packing or digging around in your suitcase.
How to afford business-class airfare
Flying in business class sounds great, until you get to the prices. Fortunately, there’s a way to get a much better deal.
The best option is to book airfare using miles, not cash. A business-class ticket that costs $3,000 may be available for 70,000 or 80,000 miles, plus taxes and fees. And while that’s a lot of miles, you can earn miles quickly using travel rewards credit cards.
Some of the top travel credit cards earn points that you can transfer to various airlines. When you transfer your points, you essentially turn them into airline miles with your airline of choice. For example, I recently saved over $4,000 on airfare by transferring points to Air France and booking business-class airfare.
Another recommendation is to set up a savings account as your travel fund and transfer money there every month. You can then use that money for any travel expenses you want.
If you set some money and some credit card points aside, you’ll be able to fly business class more often. Even if it’s not something you do on every flight, it’s great to have that option on long-haul flights where you want to be as comfortable as possible.
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