June 21, 2025
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With a little know-how, you can fly and enjoy the benefits of business class without paying sky high fares. Whether you’re a busy executive needing some shut eye and legroom, or a retiree ready to sip champagne at 30,000 feet, affordable or even cheap business class flights are totally within your fly zone. With a few insider tricks and a touch of flexibility, you can score those plush seats and gourmet meals with a great business class flight deal. Ready to learn how to fly like a VIP for less? Let’s take off!
When it comes to saving money on business class flights, having some flexibility with your dates can be really beneficial. Flight prices love to spike during school holidays and weekends. If you’re open to flying midweek or during the shoulder seasons (think spring or autumn in Europe), you’ll catch those sweet, wallet-friendly business class flight deals.
Prices vary dramatically depending on the time of year, day of the week and even time of day you fly. If you are tied to a certain date, it is worth checking a few days either side, you could save a $1,000 just by flying a day early. Sometimes pricing is random and there may be a cheap day that pops up. Even in high season, we have managed to find some great last minute deals for our clients.
Flexibility with dates increases your chances of savings.
Flying directly without a transit/layover is convenient but often pricier. Routes with slightly longer layovers or multi-leg itineraries involving different airlines can unlock better deals. For example, we are able to get our clients great business class pricing when we book them on a Qantas segment to Manila, then Manila to Europe with Oman Air (the same return). This partnership between the two airlines translates to significant savings (thousands!) for the traveller.
Why not spice things up with a multi-airline itinerary? It’s like a travel cocktail – mixing the best deals for the ultimate bargain. Plus you could add on an amazing stopover to your itinerary!
Generally, booking business class flights 3–6 months in advance scores you the best deals. But airlines love a good surprise sale too. Flash sales pop up when you least expect, so keep your inbox tuned in to airline newsletters and deal alerts.
Full-service airlines like Cathay Pacific and Etihad love to surprise with business class sales. Last-minute deals under $6,000 return from Australia to Europe pop up occasionally but you need to keep an eye out. We keep our clients alerted to price drops with a regular newsletter (sign up below). Your next dream trip could be just one email away!
If you’re racking up frequent flyer miles or credit card points, business class seats are the ultimate prize. Keep an eye out for award seat sales where your points stretch further. You never know – those fancy credit cards often come with perks that could get you upgrades and cheap business class flights!
Many Australian travellers accumulate points through programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer. Most airlines have an associated reward system and you can usually collect points from other carriers in their alliance – the major alliances are Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam.
Join airline loyalty programs and rack up miles whenever you fly. Better yet, sign up for air miles credit cards that earn points on everyday purchases, such as groceries and fuel. You can get a supplementary card for your partner to double your points haul.
Premium credit cards often offer sign-up points bonuses that can be converted to miles. Points add up faster than you think and they can often be redeemed for business class upgrades or discounts.
Enjoy flight upgrades with air rewards points.
If you’re open to a little extra travel, consider flying out of other airports. Sometimes Melbourne or Sydney will have cheaper business class fares than other Australian airports. And if you’re headed to Europe, arriving at an airport close to your destination and taking a quick train/bus/flight can save you some serious cash.
Open-jaw tickets, where you fly into one city and out of another, also provide flexibility and may lower costs.
Airlines hate flying with empty business class seats, so they sometimes offer last-minute upgrade deals at a fraction of the usual cost. Check the airline’s ‘Manage My Booking’ page before your flight – you might see a tempting upgrade offer. Otherwise, ask at the airport check-in desk – you could snag a sweet deal if they have spare seats.
Airlines often sell more tickets than available seats, betting some passengers won’t show. When everyone does, they need volunteers to take a later flight and they’re happy to sweeten the deal with perks like a business class seat on the next plane. Just be sure to check your rights before volunteering.
Plane overbooked? Volunteer to take a later flight and you might score an upgrade!
Keep an eye out for airline sales – they’re the perfect time to grab cheap business class flights. Big sale periods like Black Friday, Boxing Day or airline-specific promos can deliver fantastic deals. Want to be the first to know? Sign up to the Ultravelle mailing list (below) and never miss a business class bargain again.
When booking premium flights out of Europe, try to avoid starting your trip in the UK. Why? Because the UK government slaps on a hefty Air Passenger Duty a.k.a “luxury tax” for your wallet. That means an extra £224 (about AU$470!) per passenger added to your ticket price.
This extra charge hits both paid and reward tickets, so even if you’re flying with miles, you’ll still get the tax bill. The silver lining? You only pay this if your flight starts in the UK. If you’re just transiting or arriving, you’re in the clear – no extra charges!
Another way to reduce your business class fare is to fly economy/premium economy from Australia to Asia and then business class from Asia to Europe. Airlines such as Finnair, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways regularly offer competitively priced business class flights from Southeast Asian hubs like Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.
Round-trip fares to Europe from countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka or the Philippines often range between AU$2,500 and AU$3,000.
In some instances, the airline will allow an economy segment and business class segment on the one ticket – this is called a mixed class fare. In other instances, you will need a separate ticket from Australia to your chosen Asian stopover city. Just remember, when booking separate tickets, you’ll need plenty of time between flights (at least one day) to avoid the stress of missed connections.
If you’re looking for cheap business class flights to Europe, Manila is a good city to fly from. Airlines like Etihad regularly offer fares around $2,500 AUD return to cities like Madrid, Dublin or Geneva. Occasionally, you can snag Manila to Istanbul for even less!
Since you’ll have a break in Asia, why not turn that layover into a mini holiday? Take a few days to explore Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or The Philippines before your flight to Europe. It’s the perfect way to stretch your legs and break up that long-haul journey.
Don’t forget, you may need a visa if you visit a stopover destination.
Enjoy a relaxing stopover in The Philippines.
Carriers like Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Asiana and Oman Air may not be household names but provide lie-flat business class seats at competitive prices.
Where other airlines charge upwards of AU$8,000 for business class tickets from Australia to Europe, these carriers often offer fares closer to AU$5,500.
Airlines often discount first and business class seats to fill cabins, but they prefer to keep these deals under wraps so full-paying customers aren’t upset. That’s where specialist agents like Ultravelle come in. We have access to fares you won’t find online. Just give us a call or send an enquiry and we will find a deal just for you. Check out our business class page for more.
With these strategies, finding affordable/cheap business class flights for your journey is entirely achievable. Being flexible, booking smart, leveraging loyalty programs and staying informed are key to unlocking premium travel without premium prices. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, your next luxurious journey awaits.
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