How to Tighten Your Belt More Creatively

Just about everyone has to do it these days. The question is how to do it while minimizing the pain. If you fly internationally, especially to Europe, we have one answer: Business Class one way, Premium Economy the other. Stay with me here, it might not be as bad as it sounds.

This formula works best when traveling between North America and Europe, where a lie-flat bed (or at least a seat that reclines 170 degrees) is nearly essential for getting sufficient sleep to function well the next day. The savings are greatest when Business Class fares are high due to availability or unmet requirements for highly discounted fares such as advance-purchase or minimum-stay

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Friendly Airlines

Air New Zealand, V Australia, British, EVA, Scandinavian, Thai and Virgin Atlantic.

Combo-Fare Unfriendly Airlines

All Nippon, Japan, Qantas

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To Europe

Flying from New York to London, I have taken an overnight flight in Business Class and come back in Premium Economy, which isn’t as bad as it sounds, when done with the right airline. One of them is Virgin Atlantic. Here’s why: Its Premium Economy seat is 21 inches wide, which beats Continental’s B757 Business Class seat by one inch, and Business Class on Delta’s B767 by twoand-half inches. (Keep in mind, too, that Premium Economy seats on international routes are often as good as US legacy carriers’ domestic First Class seats.) We’ve found that you can save as much as $1,800 by splitting your ticket between Business and Premium Economy when booking only seven days in advance. On the return leg, I spent the flight on my laptop with my seat slightly reclined so why pay for a bed. It’s not such an effective use of resources. In other words, I’ll take the two-anda-half ‘bonus’ inches I get on Virgin’s Premium Economy over Delta’s 18.5 inches in Business Class, even if the cost was the same. I’m broad-shouldered making the width as important as anything.

To Asia

The strategy only works for certain airlines. Neither Japan Airlines nor All Nippon offer round-trip fares that combine Business and Premium Economy. Both only offer one-way fare combinations, which do not yield a great savings.

Two airlines that do allow you to combine the two classes on a round-trip ticket are Thai Airways to Bangkok (sample savings from Los Angeles is about $1,700), and Eva Airways to Taipei (you can save about $1,200 from LAX).

To the South Pacific

Here you can really strike gold because Business Class fares can be very high if the advance-purchase deadline is missed (and pretty high even if you make it). Both Air New Zealand and V Australia offer combination Business Class-Premium Economy fares, with savings ranging from $1,800 to $4,750. The added plus with Air New Zealand in Premium Economy is the cabin location on its B747; it’s offered on the upper deck, giving passengers a more private and business feel. Qantas does not offer a combination fare, nor does it offer one-way Premium Economy fares.

South America

No true Premium Economy seat is offered from the U.S. to South America.