Best Ways of Booking First Class to Europe, Now that Fares Have Increased
SPECIAL REPORT AT A GLANCE:
- Bad News: First Class fares are climbing.
- Good News: Low-fare routes exist, from $3,267
- What to do when First Class fares are $5,000+?
- What to do when you lack the miles or points to get a First Class mileage ticket?
- Amex’s International Airline Program (IAP) can save up to 23% on First Class fares
- Using miles to upgrade to First Class
- Related strategies to help reduce high First Class fares
It was only about year ago when Air France changed the First Class fare landscape by introducing new 90-day advance purchase fares, starting at $3,413. Lufthansa, SWISS, and United offered seats at $3,515. Back then, British Airways was not a deal, it was offering fares starting at $5,000+.
Well, the wind has changed.
THE Bad News
The Air France, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United fares are gone. On many routes, a First Class seat on these airlines now costs $4,500 to $6,000.
THE Good News
Now it’s BA’s turn to be the go-to airline. It offers First Class fares to Europe (via London) starting at $3,600. Get a 10% discount for using a British Airways Visa Card and the fare drops to $3,267. (Sample screenshot below.)
Go here for recent FCF First Class fare alert showing more routes on British Airways.
Remember, BA is going to fly you via London, so you must make a connection if you’re headed for the continent, and on the connecting flight you’ll be in Business Class.
To find out how to get a 72-hour hold, for $10, on a BA First Class ticket, see FCF’s July report on How to Hold Amazing Business and First Class Flash Fares Before They Disappear into a Black Hole.
What to do When First Class Fares Are $5,000+
Use miles or points to get to Europe, even though award taxes can be $1,100+ on British Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa. The upside is that BA, as well as Emirates and Lufthansa, have good award availability. If you’re very flexible, book within two weeks of departure to find lower award taxes on partner airlines.
For example, if you have United miles or points to transfer from Chase, you might find award space on United on short-notice. The benefit: The tax is about $150.
Recent Sweet Redeems alerts:
First Class on British Airways
Have no Miles or Points?
If the First Class fare is over $6,000, consider buying and redeeming miles for your ticket.
For example, New York to Milan non-stop in First Class on Emirates starts at $8,000 round-trip. Emirates is a points transfer partner of Amex Rewards and you can buy 135,000 Amex Rewards points for about $3,375 and transfer them to Emirates to buy the ticket. You’ll incur $1,100+ on award taxes with Emirates, but you’re still saving $3,500.
For more details see FCF’s special report on When to Buy Miles Instead of Purchasing a Normal Published Fare; Upgrader’s Block and How to Overcome It; Volume 1: When to Use Your Miles; and How to Buy American Express Membership Rewards Points.
Amex’s International Airline Program
In our research, the program offers a fare discount of 5% to 23%—on Air France, British Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa—on many published First Class fares, depending on airline, advance-purchase, and route.
HOW TO BOOK AND DETAILS:
- Call 800-525-3355 for Platinum Travel Service or 800-553-9497 for Business Platinum Travel Service
- There’s a $39 booking fee per ticket
- You can buy up to eight tickets
- Valid for First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy
- Bonus: Earn 5x Membership Reward points by paying with an Amex card
- Yes, you still earn award miles
Using Miles to Upgrade to First Class
American, British Airways, and United allow you to upgrade low Business Class fares using miles. For more details see below.
- Upgrading on American: From Business to First Class takes 50,000 miles round-trip plus $1,100 co-pay. More here.
- Upgrading on British Airways: From Business to First Class takes 36,000 to 45,000 miles during off-peak and 40,000 to 50,000 miles during peak season round-trip. More here.
- Upgrading on United: From Business to First Classtakes 40,000 miles round-trip plus $1,100 co-pay. More here.