Flying in Business Class doesn’t have to break the bank. Deals and promotions may be far less common for Business than for Economy, but they’re out there if you know where to look.
With the right approach and tools, you can quickly learn how to get cheap Business Class tickets.
Why is Business Class more expensive?
Originally oriented to meet the needs of those who travel frequently for work, Business Class offers a significant step up from the Economy and Premium Economy Classes.
While it varies from airline to airline, Business Class usually offers plenty of perks. Free airport lounge access, flowing champagne, room to stretch your legs and lie flat, and top-quality food – the allure is clear. You’ll arrive more rested and less stressed.
No matter if you’re flying internationally or domestically, it’s well worth making the effort to find those Business Class bargains to get cheap flights to anywhere.
When to get cheap business class flights?
Before I dive into the tips, let’s examine the average cost of business class flights and the cheapest months to fly. Looking at KAYAK’s data on the average flight costs per month, this type of flight doesn’t fluctuate much. That said the first three months of the year do seem to skew more expensive.
| Average cost of business class flights within the UK: | £303.75 |
| Average cost of international business class flights: | £2,592.50 |
| Average cost of business class flights within Europe: | £518.94 |
| Cheapest month to fly business class: | June |
| Most expensive month to fly business class: | February, with January a very close second |
Data insights are based on the analysis of searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands, between 2025-01-01 and 2025-07-24 for traveling between 2025-01-01 and 2025-12-31
Tips and tools to find cheap Business Class tickets
Here are the top five tips and KAYAK tools for how to get cheap Business Class tickets and avoid paying sky-high prices.
1. Use your reward points and miles to get cheap Business Class tickets
If you’re serious about saving money when you fly, start by maximising airline rewards programmes, especially tied to airline-branded or travel credit cards. You can use the points and miles you earn from signing up, everyday spending, hotel stays, previous flights, and car hire to book Business Class seats at a steep discount.
Using your rewards is smart because Business Class tickets can cost three or four times as much as Economy tickets – but don’t cost triple or quadruple the miles. That makes an upgrade the most cost-effective way to maximise your rewards programme.
Before you book, make sure you’re familiar with all the partnerships and alliances for your chosen rewards programmes. And the best credit card for getting airline miles in my experience? American Express, hands down. Their Membership Rewards programme offers lots of opportunities to earn points from everyday purchases. Just make sure you devote your points to airline rewards specifically.
Points and miles are often transferable between cards and collaborating airlines, meaning you can combine rewards from different sources to make one giant discount on your upgrade.
Let’s take United Airlines’ MileagePlus miles, for example. Part of the Star Alliance, you can use its miles with 35+ other airlines around the world, including the likes of Lufthansa, Air Canada, and EVA Air. You can then apply your miles to book Business Class tickets directly or to upgrade your Economy or Premium Economy seats to Business Class.
However, it’s almost always wiser to book your tickets directly rather than upgrading with air miles. Many airlines don’t allow upgrades with miles from Economy Class tickets, especially if you bought those tickets with miles in the first place. Airlines usually add a hefty surcharge to such upgrades.
2. Bid on a Business Class upgrade auction
There are many ways to get an upgrade to Business Class, but perhaps the most gamified is the airline auction. From Air New Zealand to Cathay Pacific, many airlines invite you to bid on a class upgrade – if you’ve bought an eligible ticket.
It’s pretty simple: in the days or weeks leading up to your departure date, you’ll get an email from the airline inviting you to make an offer on a seat upgrade. Some airlines only let you bid for a single step up to the next class from your existing ticket, but a few like Etihad let you bid on any class, from Business to First.
Auctions usually impose a minimum bid amount. So, to give yourself a good chance, try bidding at least 25% above that minimum amount. If that’s above your budget, it’s always worth making an offer for what you’re willing to pay anyway. Some auctions have surprisingly few bidders and, as a result, low thresholds.
Most of the time, you’ll be bidding cold hard cash for your upgrade, although a few carriers, such as Qantas and Singapore Airlines, let you bid with miles as well.
3. Use KAYAK tools to fly Business Class for less
There’s no magic formula for figuring out how to get cheap Business Class tickets, but KAYAK has tools to make your search easier. If you don’t feel like spending your spare time scouring airlines for Business Class deals (and who does?), select ‘Business Class’ under the ‘Cabin’ filter and set a Price Alert. KAYAK will do the rest for you.
Just set your departure and arrival points, choose fixed dates, or use the Flexible Dates tool and make sure to change the dropdown section to ‘Business’ to scope out the best prices for these fares. You’ll get email alerts when the price drops, as well as access to our forecasting tool to see if we think the price is going to get cheaper or more expensive over the next 30 days.
4. Mix cabin classes for longer-haul flights
If you’re using miles or points, look for award tickets that let you book mixed cabins. Some loyalty programmes (e.g., Avios with British Airways) even let you manually select which legs to upgrade. Just make sure to double-check how the miles are priced, as some programmes charge based on the highest cabin class across the itinerary, while others price each segment individually. (It’s also worth noting that prices can vary widely based on cabin class and itinerary.)
5. Forget outdated advice and be flexible
Gone are the days of rolling up to check in dressed in your Sunday best with claims of it being your honeymoon in the hope of a celebratory upgrade. The best you can expect at the counter today is the offer of a discounted bump up in class. But even that will likely be more expensive than using the tips and tools in this article. Nowadays, airline employees can’t offer cheap upgrades at their own discretion, so there’s no point in asking.
Plan well and in advance, and embrace a little flexibility. Try to avoid flying on Fridays and Mondays, which are popular with business travellers. You’re more likely to find empty Business Class seats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The next time you search, add a few days’ window before and after your flight dates and you’ll cast a much bigger net over potential cheap Business Class fares.
How to plan ahead for a better chance at upgrades?
You won’t get an upgrade by asking at the check-in desk. Rather, plan in advance for the best chance of getting the cheapest upgrade. Bear in mind that there’s also a hierarchy to being upgraded. You’re more likely to get bumped up from Premium Economy than from Economy, and frequent fliers get priority.
Flight attendants can’t offer upgrades under normal circumstances, so make sure to request one between booking and boarding. A useful tip is to check with the gate agent to see if any cancellations have opened up a last minute upgrade opportunity.
Check out some of our favourite Business Class flight routes
