Business Class Flights: What to Know Before you Book

Today we are talking about what happens when you turn left on the airplane and fly business class! Now that Kim and Tamara have flown business class on many airlines including Delta One, Aer Lingus, TAP Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Condor, Avianca, and others. Whether you are booking on points or paying cash, there are some things that you need to know first.

Episodes Highlights

• Research what aircraft is flying the route you are looking to buy because the business class can vary dramatically depending on the plane and the layout
• Keep in mind that the airline can still change the aircraft after booking
• The airline will provide you with the aircraft type and should list if it is a lay flat seat or a suite
• You can also research how often the aircraft is switched out
• Also look at YouTube plane reviews for the specific route that you are looking at booking
• You may want to splurge on business class on longer flights, for example longer than eight or nine hours
• Consider if you have an overnight flight, you may want to upgrade to business class
• Keep in mind that if the flight is leaving in the early evening, it may still be hard to sleep
• Also, dinner service can really cut into your potential sleep time so on a shorter flight (e.g. from the east coast to Europe), it may not be worth it
• If you want to book with points, you can also use a paid service or use paid apps to try to find the best reward flights
• If you are booking on points, keep in mind that you still need to pay taxes and fees on most flights and some airports (such as London Heathrow) are very expensive
• If you have Avios points, you can move them to different programs but other partner programs you can combine
• Business class is different than first class. Many airlines don't have first class, such as Qatar or Delta, but others have first class, business class, premium economy, and economy
• When you are traveling business class, you have access to the priority lane for checking your bags
• Some airports offer a priority security lane as well
• When traveling business class, you have access to the airline lounge (if available in the airport)
• You also get to board early and they will typically bring you a welcome drink
• Keep in mind that your under-the-seat space is limited in business class and some airlines or aircraft set ups have better storage than others
• The airline will also provide you with a small amenity kit with a sleep mask, moisturizer, lip balm, and other items
• They will also provide you with a comfy blanket and pillow and some will make up your bed for you
• Our favorite business class experiences include Qatar, Turkish Airlines, and JetBlue Mint
• Our favorite lounge experiences have been the Virgin lounge in Heathrow, the Business Class lounge for Turkish Airlines in Istanbul, and the Garden in Doha, and the British Airways lounge

Related Episodes

• How to choose your seat on the airplane
• What to know about airline fees
• Airport travel tips