Planning Business-Class Travel around Peak and Off-Peak Seasons

Business class air travel is great, but it doesn’t have to be expensive if you avoid peak season fares. Peak travel season includes holidays like summer and Christmas/New Year when most people travel. With so many people on the move during these periods, airfare goes up. 

Conversely, when demand is lower (including “shoulder” seasons like late winter or early fall), flights are cheaper. Most airlines experience their busiest season from May to October. Prices typically drop during January, February, August, and September. If you’re booking a flight, familiarizing yourself with high season versus low season will help you get cheaper business-class tickets.

Peak Season Costs More 

During peak holiday and summer season, business and leisure travel both increase, which drives up airfare prices. Airlines know travelers will pay more for peak season travel since it can be more urgent to get there. This is called dynamic pricing: as flights sell out, prices go up based on remaining seat availability. Even if you book well in advance of peak seasons like holidays, prices can be very high. Travel weeks when fare prices are the highest include the weeks right before and after Christmas/New Years Day and other holidays. Airlines across the globe see an increase in bookings and higher prices during these weeks.

Weeks where airlines offer the lowest prices often coincide with when fewer people travel. Traveling during these periods will open you up to better business-class deals. For example, one surprise finding from Google’s travel data is that August has some of the lowest fares, after kids have returned to school. If you know when the high and low season starts and ends, you can plan your travel around (and before) the jet-set crowd.

Fly Cheap During Off-Peak Season 

Take advantage of low seasons. If you can, wait to fly during times when fewer people travel like late August or September or January and February. You likely will avoid summer and winter holiday prices. Shoulder seasons like spring and fall also tend to be a good middle ground between good weather and lower demand. If your schedule allows, try to travel during these windows. You can even check airline award charts. Some airlines let you book business class using less points during their off-season months.

A few strategies to find cheaper dates: 

• Fly during the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are historically cheaper days to fly than weekends;
• Fly on holidays. Flying on a holiday, like Christmas Day itself or Thanksgiving Day may be cheaper than the days leading up to or after them;
• Check calendar search features. Google Flights has a calendar view that highlights cheaper days to travel based on your search. Skyscanner has a “flexible dates” feature that does something similar;
• Search nearby airports and cities. Sometimes flying into a nearby airport (like Manchester instead of Heathrow) or city can save you money. Don’t be afraid to search “everywhere.” 

When airlines have low demand, you’ll often find better deals on business-class tickets.

Saving Money Even When You Must Travel Peak

Sometimes you just have to travel when everyone else does. If you have flexible dates, avoid peak season whenever possible. However, if you absolutely need to travel during these periods, use these strategies to save money on business-class flights.

Book in Advance

Most airlines will release sales and special business-class fares several months out. Seasoned flyers will note that searching about 3-9 months out is ideal because that’s when airlines will put out deals. If you find a fare you like, book it, and you’ll usually never see that price again. Booking last-minute is rarely a good idea for business class, as fares generally increase if seats haven’t sold out.

Set Price Alerts

Sign up for price alerts on Google Flights, Skyscanner, or your preferred search engine. This way you’ll know when prices drop and you can book immediately. If you consistently monitor your fare (without oversearching and essentially setting a higher “default” price) you can save money.

Be Flexible with Travel Days, Airports, and Cities

This cannot be stated enough: be flexible. Search “everywhere” in Google Flights or leave the “to” field blank to discover cheaper destinations. Are dates adjacent to your preferred travel dates cheaper? Consider flying a day early or late. Are there airports near your destination you could fly into? Fly into Lisbon instead of London or Oakland instead of San Francisco. You might even find savings by flying into a large airport or small airport one or two train rides away.

Fly Midweek

It’s a known secret that flying Tuesday-Thursday will usually get you the cheapest fare. One article found that midweek flights were on average 13% cheaper than weekends. On shorter flights, even flying early morning or overnight (“red-eyes”) can save you money if business class is in lower demand.

Book Separate Tickets

Another trick is to book separate tickets for different legs of your journey. For long flights, you might book the long-haul portion business and separate out the regional portions. Some travelers have saved thousands doing this by flying into a hub and catching a cheaper carrier home or booking a short haul portion in economy. You’ll have to play around with connection times and visas, but it can pay off.

Consider Upgrading 

If business class fares are too high, book premium economy or economy and then upgrade later. Some airlines allow you to bid on last-minute upgrades for a chance to move up. Others sell discounted upgrades at the check-in desk or gate. This strategy can work well if the business class cabin isn’t full.

Use these tips in conjunction with each other. Compare flying full business to flying part-upgrades to part-economy. When you find a price that meets your budget, book it.

Redeeming Points for Off-Peak Awards and Flight Benefits

Airline loyalty programs can also play a role in when you should buy business-class tickets. The airline industry refers to this as award seasonality. In short, flying during airlines’ off-peak periods will cost you less points. Some airlines even offer increased reward seat availability or reduced award pricing during these periods. When you’re flexible, aim to book these windows with rewards. On the cash side of bookings, paying with points can extend your travel dollar further, and is often worth more during peak fare times.

Tip: Watch for award availability openings. Like with paid tickets, award availability on airlines opens up around 11 months out when schedules are released. It also opens up in the final week or two before departure. If you’re trying to use points for peak season travel, book early for that chance at premium cabin awards. If you’re feeling lucky, wait until the last minute. Awards can “magically” appear in that 1-2 week window and you may be able to snag a business-class seat for economy-level miles. Don’t forget you can often transfer credit-card points to airline partners, so look for any bonus transfer deals if you have a credit card that allows transfers.

Let Travel Business Class Find You Great Business-Class Deals 

If all that research sounds like too much work, you can always let Travel Business Class do the heavy lifting. At Travel Business Class, we specialize in finding you business-class fares (among other services). Each client is paired with a personal travel advisor. 

We’ll listen to your travel wishes then search for you to find the ideal flight itinerary at the best price. Whether you have a strong seat preference (aisle vs window) or need a certain meal, your dedicated travel advisor will make note and do their best to accommodate your request.

We also have exclusive access to great deals. Which means we can find discounts on business-class fares you won’t find anywhere else. In fact, our clients have gotten business seats for prices closer to premium economy fares. Plus, if your travel plans change after booking, you’ll have 24/7 access to your travel advisor who can help you rebook or make changes. 

Travel Business Class has the tools and expertise to help you find great business-class fares. We'll scour the web for deals, combine airlines for you, and even suggest mixing cabins if it’ll save you money.

Soft List of Key Tips

• Search and set alerts 3-9 months out
• Fly during off-peak season or midweek 
• Stay flexible on travel days, routes, and airports
• Consider booking separate tickets or upgrading later
• Use points or Miles for off-peak periods and when cash prices rise
• Book with an expert. Travel Business Class has access to exclusive deals and provides personal travel advisors.

Conclusion 

Traveling in business doesn’t have to be restricted to your wallet. By flying during low seasons when fewer people travel, booking at the right time, and being flexible on routes and dates, you’ll pay less for your next business-class ticket. Set fare alerts, look at alternative airports, and don’t be afraid to use your hard-earned miles. 

You can even let a professional help you find great business-class fares. Travel Business Class can connect you to the perfect seat at your ideal price. 

Follow these tips and you’ll be traveling in comfort and style, just like the savvy business-class traveler you are. Happy travels!