A smart way to compromise when Business Class fares are very expensive and you’re out of upgrade strategies.
There are three reasons that can make flying two classes of service—Business Class one way and Premium Economy Elite the other—better than one:
Reason 1: It’s less money.
Reason 2: You might plan to work or watch movies for the most part on one flight.
Reason 3: You’re simply connection-averse, and insist on a non-stop fight.
If you are not really using the benefits of a Business Class seat—maybe just reclining slightly and using the footrest—or you’re not planning to sleep even though you have a lie-flat seat (you’re on a day flight to or from Asia, so a nap will do)—many might wonder about the need to pay the premium for Business Class, as PE might suffice.
The more Premium Economy takes off, and the more First Class disappears, the more you might think about the value of a Business or First Class seat if you’re not using it to sleep.
For people who are connection-averse and pass on making a stop, even if it gets them a higher class of service, FCF has the prescription: Fly Business on the overnight segment—to sleep, not to dine—and Premium Economy on the day flight, when work (or watching movies or reading), not sleep, is paramount.
Combining Classes Savings
For example, the lowest average Business Class fare on Singapore Air from Los Angeles to Tokyo is $3,526 round-trip. Compare that to buying a mixed-class ticket, meaning flying to Tokyo in Premium Economy—the flight leaves LAX at 10am (so you’re not really thinking of going to sleep if only because it’s the morning and you just woke up) and arrives in Tokyo at 1:30pm the next day, so it’s not really an overnight flight—and returning in Business Class ($2,549). The difference? $977.
Or, take New York-Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, which offers three non-stop flights, one of which leaves NYC at 9am. Again, you’ve only been up for a few hours, so you’re not thinking about sleeping again. If all you’ll need is a nap, PE might suffice. Save 32% by purchasing a mixed-class ticket.
HOW TO SEARCH AND BOOK
Any travel agent or airline reservationist can price this for you, however, only some airline sites offer this search option, among them Air Canada, American, Delta, Japan Airlines, and Singapore will let you do it online.
MAKE SURE TO GET BEST SEATS
Airlines with the best Premium Economy seats to Asia are: All Nippon, Japan Airlines, and Singapore. Visit the link above for more on airlines to Asia that offer a true Premium Economy product.