Cheap 1st class?

Question

I'm flying from Las Vegas to Boston in July. I HATE flying coach. Last time there was a screaming little kid who kept kicking the back of my chair. I REALLY don't want to fly coach. I want to find some cheap tickets. Does anyone have any websites or airlines that offer first class at a discount or something? Also is it cheaper the earlier you book?

Answer 1

I'm a regular first-class flyer. I've been flying a round-trip flights from Kansas City to Little Rock every week since September, most of the time connecting through Dallas or Chicago. I almost always sit first class on the flights from Kansas City and Dallas or KC and Chicago.

If you are not a frequent flyer, you can purchase a first class ticket for the airlines asking price. My experience has shown that purchasing this ticket is often eight to ten times more than a regular coach class ticket. If you must fly first class, this will do it for you. A regular $200 coach ticket could cost from $1200 to $1600 for the first class equivalent this way.

You can take a chance as a non-frequent flyer with some airlines (American Airlines is my recent experience) and you may be offered an opportunity to upgrade your coach class ticket for $45 for a short hop (under 500 miles) and increasing in $45 increments for every additional 500 miles on your flight segment. For example, to fly from Dallas to Kansas City would cost $45, to fly from Dallas to Indianapolis would cost $90. Availability will vary and there will be no way to predict if the offer will be made.

If you are a frequent flyer (like I am), you can qualify to use "upgrade credits". These upgrades usually cost about $20 apiece and if space is available (based on your "status" with the frequent flyer program and seats available) you can exchange a simple upgrade credit for a first-class upgrade. These upgrades are also in the "500-mile" buckets.

Another option: if you are a frequent flier on one airline (say, American Airlines) and you have a flight coming up on another airline (say Continental or Northwest), you can call them up and say "Hey, I'm turbo-platinum at American, what can you do for me?" Often times you can get a complementary bump to an "elite tier" and gain the same benefits.

Also, many airlines "code-share" and you can use your "American" status on other airlines like Alaska Airlines, Quantas, etc. Check with your usual airline for options.

Some airlines do not have upgrades at all. For example, regional jet flights tend to not have first class on their planes. Southwest airlines also does not offer first class seating.

Hope that helps get you started. For further details, you'll need to review the airlines website and frequent flier program.

Answer 2

What you are looking for is a YUP or a KUP fare, which is a coach class fare upgraded to First, or a Restricted First class fare. You can find them quite easily on most airline websites (AA being a prime example) by searching for 'First, with Restriction'

I would note that generally on a flight > 2,000 miles (like yours) you'll end up with a stop. Longer haul flights tend to sell out their First Class seats (and have no YUP/KUP) but shorter ones often do have seats left in First.

Try this site:

http://www.farecompare.com/search/yupfares.html

Answer 3

I have a little travel blog that will help you find the cheapest airfare! Use the Kayak search bar on the right side to find the cheapest airfare!

The blog is about travel to and around Europe, but you can use the Kayak bar to find really cheap flights anywhere in the world!

Once at the Kayak site you can change search results to only include 1st class tickets. Good luck!

http://besttravelsearch.blogspot.com

Answer 4

Try Midwest Express Airlines' "Signature Service". These connect at Milwaukee, are 2x2 spacious leather seating, much like business class but don't cost nearly as much. http://www.midwestexpress.com

Also consider business class on AirTran or Frontier, which offer very cheap ($35 per segment) upgrades if there are any business class seats available at check-in time.