Economy vs Business Class?
Always Check the Price Difference Before You Book, Business Class May Be Closer Than You Think
Many travellers assume business class will cost thousands more than economy. Sometimes it does. But not always. Airfares change constantly. Airlines adjust prices according to demand, availability, booking patterns, route competition and many other factors. As a result, the price difference between economy and business class can sometimes be surprisingly small. That is why SeatGuru.Online encourages travellers to compare both cabins before booking.
Don’t Just Look at the Business-Class Price
Imagine finding an economy fare for $1,100 and business class for $1,500. At first glance, $1,500 may sound expensive. However, the more useful comparison is the $400 difference.
For that additional cost, depending on the airline and fare, you could receive benefits such as priority check-in, extra baggage, lounge access, priority boarding, better meals and significantly more space. On many long-haul flights, you could also enjoy a lie-flat seat.
Suddenly, the question changes from:
“Can I afford a $1,500 business-class ticket?”
to:
“Is the business-class experience worth an extra $400?”
That is a much better way to compare the true value of each fare.
Sometimes the Difference Can Be Remarkably Small
Flight prices can vary dramatically from one route to another. One destination may have a large gap between economy and business class. Another may offer business class for only a few hundred dollars more. Occasionally, something even more interesting happens. Business class can appear at almost the same price as economy. In rare cases, it may even be slightly cheaper.
For example, one recent search showed a fare to Cairo at approximately US$452 in economy and US$448 in business class. This does not mean business class will normally be cheaper. These opportunities depend on the route, travel date, availability and fare conditions. Prices can also change quickly. However, it shows why travellers should never automatically assume economy offers the best value.
Why Can Economy and Business-Class Prices Be So Close?
Airline pricing is far more complicated than simply making business class two or three times the price of economy. Each cabin contains different fare classes and levels of availability. Airlines continually adjust these prices according to demand. Economy can therefore become expensive when a flight is heavily booked. At the same time, discounted business-class seats may still be available. This can result in an expensive economy fare being compared with a discounted business-class fare. The price difference can then become much smaller than expected.
Compare the Value, Not Just the Fare
This is especially important on long-haul flights. Paying an additional $100, $300 or $500 for a short journey may not appeal to everyone. However, the calculation can be very different on a 10- or 12-hour flight. A relatively small upgrade could mean more space, better food, improved service, lounge access and potentially a lie-flat bed. The cheapest ticket is therefore not always the ticket offering the best overall value.
One Search Could Reveal a Better Way to Fly
At SeatGuru.Online, we believe travellers should compare all their options before deciding which cabin offers the best value. Don’t automatically select economy. Check business class too. The price difference may be much smaller than you expected. Occasionally, you may even discover a business-class fare that makes upgrading an easy decision.
Ready to Check Business Class Fares?
Enter your journey details into the SeatGuru.Online flight search.
Click the Passengers drop-down and select Business before clicking Search. It only takes a few seconds to compare fares. You might be surprised by how close the business-class price is to economy. Before you book Economy, always check Business Class too.
