Many short-notice, economy class fares are on the rise. That means if you’ve missed the advance-purchase discount of seven days, you should consider looking at First Class fares, as there might be a surprise waiting there. That’s because nowadays coach can cost as much as, or more than, the front cabin in many cases, which means you’d be throwing away miles or gambling for an elite upgrade when you don’t need to. The other benefit to booking First Class is receiving mileage and elite credit bonuses.
Below are samples from a recent fare survey we conducted that revealed many routes where First Class fares are within a few dollars of economy, sometimes even less, but you’d rarely be told that by your travel agent or favorite booking engine. Some examples:
American Airlines: A Dallas-Philadelphia round-trip in First Class costs $1,198 (code P), while a no-advance economy ticket costs even more: $1,258 (code M).
Delta: An Atlanta-Houston First Class round-trip costs $742 (code A), the same price as an economy ticket with no advance.
United: A First Class round-trip from Chicago to Charlotte costs $804 (code A), only $40 more than a no-advance economy ticket ($768, code U).
US Airways: A Philadelphia-Albuquerque round-trip in First Class costs $824 (code A), $30 more than no-advance economy ($794, code V).
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How to play it: In your fare search, always check all avenues available to you, comparing economy to First Class, considering partners, and even costs to fly from nearby airports. Trust the process of looking at things from every angle you can