Business Travelers’ Fare Watch

November 2003
Read Offline

Spotlighting the Lowest Unrestricted Business Class Fares

Here’s a look at international fares that come with few or no restrictions. You might also consider buying a ticket on one of these routes, then a second ticket to your destination—especially if you have to make a connection anyway.

Say you have to fly from Miami to Manchester and American’s lowest unrestricted Business Class fare is $8,046. One smart strategy is to book Miami-Madrid ($3,878 with no advance purchase or minimum stay required), then Madrid-Manchester ($1,042): That yields a saving of $3,126—39%! (There isn’t a nonstop flight on this route, so you have to connect anyway!)

The same principle applies if you plan on using miles to upgrade to Business Class: An unrestricted economy fare to one city can be significantly more expensive than to another city—which you may have to (or could) connect through anyway.

[table_opt id="4960" style="blue-header" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="all"]

Spotlighting the Lowest Unrestricted Business Class Fares

Here’s a look at international fares that come with few or no restrictions. You might also consider buying a ticket on one of these routes, then a second ticket to your destination—especially if you have to make a connection anyway.

Say you have to fly from Miami to Manchester and American’s lowest unrestricted Business Class fare is $8,046. One smart strategy is to book Miami-Madrid ($3,878 with no advance purchase or minimum stay required), then Madrid-Manchester ($1,042): That yields a saving of $3,126—39%! (There isn’t a nonstop flight on this route, so you have to connect anyway!)

The same principle applies if you plan on using miles to upgrade to Business Class: An unrestricted economy fare to one city can be significantly more expensive than to another city—which you may have to (or could) connect through anyway.

[table_opt id="4960" style="blue-header" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="all"]

...
[["<strong>From\u2013To<\/strong>","<strong>Airline<\/strong>","<strong>Biz Class Fare<\/strong>","<strong>Other Carriers<\/strong>"],["Newark-Amsterdam","Singapore","$3,600","$5,822"],["New York\/JFK-Frankfurt","Singapore","$4,032","$5,833"],["Miami-Amsterdam","Northwest, KLM","$3,000","$6,000+"],["New York-Barcelona","many","$3,360","\u2014"],["Boston-Madrid","many","$3,360","\u2014"],["Chicago-Madrid","many","$3,402","\u2014"],["Los Angeles-Madrid","many","$3,884","\u2014"],["Los Angeles-Taipei","Singapore, Northwest, Thai, United","$2,100 - $2,300","$2,600+"],["Los Angeles-Bangkok","Thai","$2,578","$3,000+"],["San Francisco-Seoul","ANA, JAL, Northwest, Thai","$2,400 - $2,600","$3,000+"]]
Want to read more?

Subscribe to get the full value out

Already have an account?
Login