FirstClassFlyer

What mindset adjustment do these momentous EasyUp Airfare changes demand?

Easy Up fares have just taken a giant evolutionary stride, spawning two new versions, one in Business Class and another in First.

New Business Class Version

The lowest EasyUp Business Class fares, established over the last 2+ years, range from $1,650 to $2,800, but they have been here-this-minute and often gone-the-next (flash sales, in effect). The defining characteristic of the new fares is that they are available every day.

The new everyday fares are also being offered on more airlines and on more routes than ever before. That’s why FCF thinks that these fares stand a very good chance of becoming a new norm, despite being about $200 to $900 more than Flash EasyUp fares.

[aside headline="EasyUp Airfare Refresher" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Easy Up fares were discovered in late 2012 and were featured in the December FCF issue, saying they would be the death knell of upgrading as many knew it. We coined the name “EasyUp” because the fare structure was similar to domestic “Y-UP” (pronounced why-up) fares, a term popularized in the 1990’s based on the “UP” letters in the fare basis code. Our EasyUp name also referred to the fact that these fares were no-brainers: Pay cash for a fare not too much more than coach, save the miles for another day. The challenge was that these fares didn't last very long. In some cases, they disappeared in a matter of hours. They still do, but now similar fares have gone mainstream, minus any publicity because fares otherwise this low frequently 40% less than the lowest published fares—upset airline corporate customers. That’s why they are seldom advertised.[/aside]

The new fares start from about $1,800 from the East Coast (about 45% less than the previously lowest fares) and $2,800 from the West Coast (about 33% less), with an average decrease of about $1,800.

Another change: The new Business Class fares require a 150-day advance purchase (until now, the lowest fares have required only a 90-day advance purchase).

A Miami-Paris ticket that drops by $1,606 in one minute. At 11:59 PM, 149 days out, it costs $4,197; at 12:00 AM, 150 days out, it costs $2,591.

New First Class Version

Before December 2012, First Class fare discounts were almost always offered for summer and holiday travel—only. But then EasyUp fares were introduced and FCF came across some amazing ones, to Asia as well as Europe (we think many were pricing experiments).

American offered First Class fares from many U.S. cities to Beijing and Shanghai. On Washington, DC-Beijing, the lowest published First Class fare had been $16,352, whereas the EasyUp First Class fare was $4,285, a decrease of $12,067. It was an even better deal than Business Class at times, which ran to $5,135, $850 more than First Class— something you don’t see every day. And you didn’t because this fare showed up and vanished without rhyme or reason (think pricing experiments).

The new EasyUp fares in First Class to Europe now start at $3,400 from the East Coast and $4,600 from the West Coast—and range from 42% / $2,500 to 72% / $8,600 off the old norm. Some airlines even have a fare-basis code containing the word “UP” to identify them: American’s is often INN1D1E1/EUUP; Lufthansa, SWISS, and United use DRCUP57E at times.

American’s fare also has a “flat fare difference” (a.k.a. upgrade) of just $1,000 (see image above). For perspective, that’s $100 less than the cash surcharge AA charges to upgrade from Business to First Class with miles. (You’re also saving 50,000 miles if you snag one of these new fares!)

New EasyUp First Class fares to Europe are currently offered on 70%+ of routes we looked at flown by American (the lowest prices), British Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United. Restrictions vary by route and airline; the fares are often valid year-round, but the bottom line is the same: The difference between Business Class and First is now unprecedentedly low— only $500 to $1,500 on many routes. The only major hold out is Air France, which hasn’t lowered First Class fares nearly as much, but appears to be joining the others little by little.

New First Class Restriction Rundown

American: The only airline that offers an upgrade to First from its lowest 150-day advance purchase Business Class fare. It generally costs $1,000 more than Business Class from the East Coast and Midwest, $1,500 more from the West Coast.

Miami-Madrid in First is $3,406, Business Class $2,406. Chicago-Shannon is $3,581 and $2,851, respectively. San Jose-Madrid is $4,901 in First Class and $3,544 in Business Class.

On a route that currently doesn’t offer the 150-day advance purchase, such as to London, AA offers the deal on the 90-day advance purchase Business Class fare.

British Airways: Offers the upgrade to First from its lowest 90-day advance purchase Business Class fare, but only to London.

Rough Guide to the World’s Best Business Class Fares U.S.-Europe
~ How to get around the normal $4,000 to $8,000 fares ~

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Rough Guide to the World’s Best First Class Fares U.S.-Europe
How to get around the normal $8,000 to $12,000 fares

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Lufthansa, SWISS, and United: Fares are still all over the map. Most often the upgrade costs $1,500 round-trip, but we have seen it as low as $800. Upgrades to First are offered on 90- and 50-day advance purchase Business Class fares.

Tools to help you find the fares

The fastest and easiest way to find fares cited in FCF publications is to take the ‘fare basis’ and booking codes we usually include to your travel agent. But if you prefer to search online, then ITA Software, Google Flights, and Kayak are good online tools for finding low fares fast.

Just experiment with different departure and destination cities if you don’t immediately find what you’re looking for. Make sure you search 150 days out and your stay is at least 7 to 10 days.

I like to use Google and ITA’s “calendar view” to get a quick sense of what fares are like on any given route. Once you zero-in on the specific dates that offer a fare you’re happy with, just reconfirm with the airline site or call the airline directly. If you can’t get an ITA or Google result to price on the airline site, try Kayak, as it’s decent at providing accurate fares, accurate availability, and links to fares on airline and other sites.

[["Averages<\/strong>","Established Flash Fares*<\/strong>","New<\/u> 150-Day Advance Fares<\/strong>","Tried and True Seasonal Fares<\/strong>"],["East Coast<\/strong>","$1,650 to $2,200<\/strong>","$1,800 to $2,500<\/strong>","$1,900 to $2,400<\/strong>"],["West Coast<\/strong>","$1,900 to $2,800<\/strong>","**$2,800 to $3,500<\/strong>","$2,800 to $3,200<\/strong>"],["In Short<\/span>","The best fares, usually truly amazing.","A new fare category and still evolving;fares often 40% off.","These fares have been around for many years, and it is not unusual to find routes offering both a seasonal and the new, 150-day advance purchase fare."],["Airline Motivation<\/span>","Often fares are offered from competitor dominated markets to poach customers; but not always. (Many itineraries require a connection anyway, so making a connection to play the Elite-Poach Game is a way Loyalty Free Agents save thousands of dollars.)","Sell a few more seats that would otherwise fall into the hands of mileage redeemers.","To generate cash when corporate travel is at its slowest, during holiday, spring and summer, instead of releasing seats for free mileage redemption."],["Travel Season<\/span>","Varies; but more often than not we\u0092've seen travel valid all year long.","Most do not have a date-of-travel restriction and are valid year-round.","Winter: Departure, Nov. 21 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 14 through Jan. 2; Return, Nov. 26 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 21 through Jan. 6. Summer: mid-June through the first week in Sept."],["Travel Purchase Window<\/span>","Generally the fares are short-lived, but we have seen some last as long as nearly a month.","As of now, no ticketing deadline.","For a month or three and ticketing deadline is seldom an issue."],["Breath of Destinations<\/span>","Sometimes only one and other times many; inconsistent.","Many destinations.","Most destinations."],["Airlines<\/span>","Varies dramatically from few to many; most participate to some extent. SkyTeam (Air France, Alitalia, Delta, and KLM) are most often the first airlines to come out with them, then matched by other airlines.","Many airlines.","Most airlines."],["Restrictions<\/span>","Inconsistent and all over the map; advance purchase: varies from 0 to 150 days required; minimum stay: 0 to 10 days; maximum stay: 30 days to 12 months.","Advance purchase: 150 days required; minimum stay: 7 to 10 days; maximum stay: 30 days to 12 months.","Advance purchase: Starts at 60 days, then drops to 28 days as the departure window approaches; minimum stay: 3 days; maximum stay: 10 days"],["Best for...\u0085<\/span>","Travelers willing to take the routes and airlines they can get; flexibility makes a big difference and so does luck.","Travelers who can book 150 days out.","Travelers who don\u0092t catch Flash Fares for their routing or the 150 day advance fare is not offered on their routing or airline."],["Planning Prepation<\/span>","Just be ready to pull the trigger when these fares arrive; and then extend the ticket date by up to 14 days with the Look. Lock! Book? Method.","Foresight required: 150 days\u0092 worth.","Defined window: spring, summer and winter travel."],["Miles Spending Impact<\/span>","Free mileage award redeemers will have a harder time finding seats as airlines increasingly prefer cash over miles.<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Try for an upgrade to First Class with American, British Airways, and United, unless it\u0092s a market with a new, reduced First Class fare.","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Most often a better deal than using miles to upgrade from economy to Business Class.","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Competitive or better with low-cost Business Class awards in the 63,000 to 80,000 miles range (e.g. Asiana miles on United or any Star Alliance carrier between the U.S. & Europe, or Japan Airlines miles on American or British Airways flights.)","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Frequently a better deal than mileage awards in the 115,000 to 125,0000 range (e.g. Air France, Delta, and United).","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Misc.<\/span>","Works great with British Airways \/ AARP $400 discount.","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

**Very few West Coast routes at this point, this should change as the fare matures.

[["Averages<\/strong>","New 150-Day Advance Fares<\/strong>","Tried and True Seasonal Fares<\/strong>"],["East Coast<\/strong>","$3,400 to $4,400<\/strong>","$3,200 to $4,200<\/strong>"],["West Coast<\/strong>","$4,600 to $5,500<\/strong>","$4,100 to $5,200<\/strong>"],["In Short<\/span>","The difference between Business and First is usually as little as $500 to $1,500.","These fares are great and have been around for years."],["Airline Motivation<\/span>","The new fare version, only a few weeks old, and we predict there is a good chance of being available everyday going forward, in softer markets that the airlines prefer cash over mileage redemptions.","To generate cash when corporate travel is at its slowest during holiday, spring and summer."],["Travel Seasons<\/span>","Most do not have a date-of-travel restriction and are valid year-round.","Winter: Departure, Nov. 21 through Nov. 27 and Dec. 14 through Jan. 2; Return, Nov. 26 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 21 through Jan. 6. Summer: mid-June through the first week in Sept."],["Travel Purchase Window<\/span>","As of now no ticketing deadline.","For a month or three months at times and ticketing deadline is seldom an issue."],["Breath of Destinations<\/span>","Many destinations.","Many destinations."],["Airlines<\/span>","American, British Airways, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United.","Offered more frequently than any other promo fare. United often offers them first and sometimes at the lowest price."],["Restrictions<\/span>","Advance purchase: 150 days required; minimum stay: 7 to 10 days; maximum stay: 30 days to 12 months.","Advance purchase: starts at 60 days, then drops to 28 days as the departure window approaches; minimum stay: 3 days; maximum stay: 10 days."],["Best for\u0085..<\/span>","Travelers who can book 150 days out.","Travelers who don\u0092t catch Flash Fares for their routing or the 150 day advance fare is not offered on their routing or airline."],["Planning Preparation<\/span>","Foresight required: 150 days\u0092 worth.","Defined window: spring, summer and winter travel."],["Miles Spending Impact<\/span>","Free mileage award redeemers will have a harder time finding seats as airlines increasingly prefer cash over miles.<\/strong>","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Most often a better deal than using miles to upgrade from Business to First Class.","#colspan#"],["Misc.<\/span>","Works great with British Airways \/ AARP $400 discount.","#colspan#"]]

Two New Transatlantic Fare Versions Just Discovered, 31% to 72% Off, Business and First Class