Up to 53% Savings on Business Class Travel to Europe

May 2012
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The smart leisure traveler will research buying a package rather than going á lá carte. We demonstrated that concept last month for domestic First Class vacations. Now, it’s proven true for Business Class travel to Europe, usually for bookings less than 50 days in advance, but sometimes for trips booked farther out.

We examined more than 100 different itineraries involving Business Class tickets to Europe, for travel mid-May, with four major travel packagers: Orbitz, American Airlines Vacations, Delta Vacations, and United Vacations.

The greatest savings—up to 53% — was with AA Vacations when you missed the advance purchase window (a major requirement when buying discounted Business Class, usually 50 days) for a Business Class ticket to Europe. If you booked the ticket by itself (without much advance notice), you will pay $5,000 to $10,000 for a Business Class ticket.

For example, we found that the lowest online Business Class Los Angeles-Paris fare for travel on May 14 was $9,619 (two-week advance purchase) including taxes. Three nights at the Hotel Meurice in a superior room is $3,609 (on the hotel’s website) for a total cost of $11,423 per person. But if you book the same itinerary via AA Vacations, the price is $5,420 per person, including taxes; a savings of $6,003 (53%).

Factors to Keep in Mind

  • Always check published fares before buying a package so you can evaluate the deals offered. You may be surprised how often AA Vacations hotel and air packages are a better deal when compared to published Business Class fare, especially when traveling last minute.
  • Package deals are especially good on routes where Business Class fares are priced high, even if you have the advance-purchase, such as Chicago-Frankfurt ($5,471 including taxes). A package deal staying at the Westin Grand Frankfurt for three nights, based on two people traveling is $4,553, a savings of about $900 per person just on the airfare—making the Westin free.
  • Some packages offer a savings of about 12% on summer Business Class fares—a season when Business Class fares are priced unusually low—which start at about $2,500 including taxes. For example, New York-Amsterdam departing on July 2 and staying seven nights in a superior room at the Sofitel Legend The Grand came to $8,765 for two people when booked á lá carte. The same trip booked through AA Vacations came to $7,740, a savings of $1,025.
  • AA Vacations hotel and air packages require a five-night minimum hotel stay or minimum hotel booking of $500

Samples Business Class Fares to Europe Booked with AA Vacations

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[["<strong>Route<\/strong>","<strong>Hotel<\/strong>","<strong>Hotel Room Category<\/strong>","<strong>Published Hotel Cost Incl. All Taxes<\/strong>","<strong>Published Business Class Incl. All Taxes Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Published Hotel and Business Class Fare Total<\/strong>","<strong>Published Total Fare Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Total Package Cost<\/strong>","<strong>Package Cost Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Savings for Two People<\/strong>"],["Atlanta - Madrid","Westin Palace Madrid","Deluxe","$1,114 ","$6,434 ","$13,982 ","$6,991 ","$9,226 ","$4,613 ","$4,756 \/ 34%"],["Boston - Paris","San Regis","Double Classic","$1,822 ","$8,147 ","$18,116 ","$9,058 ","$9,622 ","$4,811 ","$8,494 \/ 47%"],["Chicago - Frankfurt","The Westin Grand Frankfurt","Classic \/ Deluxe","$1,256 ","$7,724 ","$16,704 ","$8,352 ","$9,106 ","$4,553 ","$7,688 \/ 46%"],["Dallas - London","Hyatt Regency - The Churchill","Standard (with breakfast)","$2,265 ","$5,339 ","$12,943 ","$6,472 ","$10,383 ","$5,191 ","$2,560 \/ 20%"],["Houston - Milan","Town House 8","Courtyard","$1,352 ","$7,388 ","$16,128 ","$8,064 ","$9,778 ","$4,889 ","$6,350 \/ 39%"],["Los Angeles - Paris","Hotel Le Meurice","Superior (with breakfast)","$3,609 ","$9,619 ","$22,847 ","$11,423 ","$10,841 ","$5,420 ","$12,006 \/ 53%"],["Miami - Dublin","Conrad Dublin","Classic","$971","$4,687 ","$10,345 ","$5,172 ","$8,408 ","$4,204 ","$1,937 \/ 19%"],["New York - London","The Ritz","Executive King (with breakfast)","$2,498 ","$5,248 ","$12,994 ","$6,497 ","$9,528 ","$4,764 ","$3,466 \/ 27%"],["New York - Rome","St. Regis Grand Hotel Rome","Double Superior (with breakfast)","$2,953 ","$6,886 ","$16,725 ","$8,362 ","$9,811 ","$4,905 ","$6,914 \/ 41%"],["San Francisco - Zurich","Renaissance Zurich Hotel","Standard","$1,102 ","$8,184 ","$17,470 ","$8,735 ","$9,282 ","$4,641 ","$8,188 \/ 47%"]]
<small><em>Based on a three night hotel stay for two people traveling May 14. Includes all taxes</em></small>