Tips on getting best Business Class ticket price
Mar 26, 2019, 12:46 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
google owns ITA and i suspect that software has been integrated in to google flights, which I use a lot. I second the suggestion of using DUB to enter the UK/EU. We have also used AMS CDG MAD FRA etc. If you have time and the interest, you could get a Chase Sapphire reserve card, do the spend then have 50000 miles to use as a discount through their portal. Or Amex platinum will give 100000 points for 5000 spend. Then use those points to discount your fares. It seems to me that J fare sales have declined since 2009, as the global economy improved. Also a lot of baby boomers in the US are starting to cash in their 401ks, then fly consolidator J flights to cruises and similar, which are taking up a lot of seats.
Mar 26, 2019, 1:39 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,901
If you are tracking the price, you will get notifications of changes, such as this one I received today
"Your tracked flight to Paris is now $2,336 (was $1,576)" Google Flights <[email protected]>
"Your tracked flight to Paris is now $2,336 (was $1,576)" Google Flights <[email protected]>
Mar 26, 2019, 1:44 pm
#33
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,821
However, in each price report it does offer a few (cheaper) alternatives
but if you want specific alternatives, that requires a separate tracking.
Mar 26, 2019, 3:10 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat, JPM Palladium, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 10
I second this. Though its not perfect, and even the quotes that google gives you isn't actually bookable, there are times where you can find great rates. I booked SFO TNA business recently for $1760, where normally the flight cost would be around $3,000. You can see on the date grid, some of these low business fares are staggered on certain days throughout the week. I do have 2 stops on the return, but my schedule allows it.
Mar 26, 2019, 4:49 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
You've got a huge advantage in that, without status, you probably are less beholden to specific carriers or alliances. That opens a much larger swathe of options. So monitor the MR Premium forum.
While I'm not a guru on fare finding, what's helpful to me is having an understanding of the general historical price range, so I can define an objective ceiling (vs market) and a subjective ceiling (vs my spending habits).
So personally, East Coast - UK I consider 1500 a good deal, 2000 a fair deal, and 2500 an acceptable deal. West Coast - Singapore, add around 500 on top of that. If it's not at Fair or better, I wouldnt buy them 12 months ahead. YMMV
While I'm not a guru on fare finding, what's helpful to me is having an understanding of the general historical price range, so I can define an objective ceiling (vs market) and a subjective ceiling (vs my spending habits).
So personally, East Coast - UK I consider 1500 a good deal, 2000 a fair deal, and 2500 an acceptable deal. West Coast - Singapore, add around 500 on top of that. If it's not at Fair or better, I wouldnt buy them 12 months ahead. YMMV
Mar 27, 2019, 9:10 am
#36
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY, NY
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K
Posts: 124
This is one of the reasons why I love this flight. I stay at a hotel near LHR and arrive and go right to bed and wake up the next day at 7-8am and I'm instantly on European time with no jet lag at all. I'm doing similar thing on way home from Hawaii in July: take the afternoon flight to LAX and spend night in hotel and next morning fly back to the east coast. Of course, I don't sleep well on planes, not even in international first class, so that might have something to do with it. If you have the time the day flight to London is well worth it in my opinion.
Mar 27, 2019, 12:38 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
new option in Google flights to see if the price is a good deal. Just rolled out. Not available for every flight
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-find-o...eal-1833603694
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-find-o...eal-1833603694
Mar 27, 2019, 2:36 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,088
You mean RT? I don’t think I have ever paid less than $2.2K for discount business TATL RT, and that was years ago. I don’t think I have seen discount business TATL RT for less than $2.8K in a long time. $2K is normally my out of pocket cash when I find PZ at booking both legs, and same for a mileage upgrade on BA (because you have to buy PE first).
Mar 27, 2019, 2:49 pm
#40
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Homosassa, FL & Ringwood, NJ -UA-G(Lifetime); SPG-Plat (Lifetime)
Posts: 6,120
You mean RT? I don’t think I have ever paid less than $2.2K for discount business TATL RT, and that was years ago. I don’t think I have seen discount business TATL RT for less than $2.8K in a long time. $2K is normally my out of pocket cash when I find PZ at booking both legs, and same for a mileage upgrade on BA (because you have to buy PE first).
$23XX on UA right now EWR-DUB RT. Plenty of availability on 787-10
Mar 27, 2019, 7:26 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,490
Mar 27, 2019, 9:32 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Seoul
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 983
Mar 28, 2019, 8:15 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,088
If you can find a RT for $2.3K in J, you should buy it. But if you see it priced at $2.8K, in my experience, at least for continental Europe, the chances that it will go up to $5K-6K are far better than that it will drop to $1.5K-2K.
Mar 28, 2019, 8:43 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
You mean RT? I don’t think I have ever paid less than $2.2K for discount business TATL RT, and that was years ago. I don’t think I have seen discount business TATL RT for less than $2.8K in a long time. $2K is normally my out of pocket cash when I find PZ at booking both legs, and same for a mileage upgrade on BA (because you have to buy PE first).
. I'll only occasionally pay more if needed for promotions - like for companion seats, or matching award seats.