8 Ways to Get Business-Class Seats on Your Next Flight Without Paying Full Price (Still Work in 2025)

A fully flat seat, a glass of champagne, and real sleep on a long flight.

Sounds out of reach? I used to think so, too.

Then I learned it’s mostly strategy, not luck.

There are smart tricks seasoned travelers use to upgrade without paying full price. I tested them. They worked.

If you want business-class perks without the sticker shock, read on. Here are eight practical ways to get those seats on your next trip.

1. Place a Bid on an Upgrade

One of the most direct ways to snag a deal is to bid for it. Over 50 airlines worldwide let economy passengers bid on unsold premium seats before a flight.

This system is a win-win: airlines fill seats that would otherwise fly empty, and you get a chance at a luxury experience for a deep discount.

Most of these airlines partner with a company called Plusgrade to run their auctions. The process is simple.

After booking your economy ticket, you might get an email inviting you to bid, or you can check the airline’s website. You’ll enter your confirmation number and place a cash offer. Airlines set a minimum bid, often around $300, so your offer has to be at least that amount.

You’ll find out if your bid was accepted closer to your departure date, and your card is only charged if you win. This is a great way to try and get business-class seats on your next flight.

2. Use Credit Card Points and Miles

This is by far the most accessible method for most people. You don’t need to be a millionaire; you just need to be strategic.

Many travel rewards credit cards offer huge sign-up bonuses and let you earn points on everyday spending. These points can then be transferred to airline partners and redeemed for flights.

Travel experts swear by this method. While business-class seats can cost five or six times more in cash, the mileage cost is often much more reasonable. You can see deals like Iberia business class to Madrid for as low as 34,000 miles each way.

Another recent deal sent travelers from New York to Lisbon in TAP Air Portugal’s business class for just 35,000 miles. That same flight in cash could easily top $3,000.

The key is flexibility. Award seats are becoming harder to find, so it pays to book early and be open with your travel dates.

3. Earn and Leverage Airline Elite Status

Loyalty pays off. Airlines reward their most frequent flyers with elite status, and one of the top perks is the chance for complimentary upgrades.

One of my friends was recently upgraded from basic economy to business class on a flight from Miami to the Bahamas, all thanks to her American Airlines Platinum Pro status.

You earn status by joining an airline’s free loyalty program and accumulating points or miles. You can do this by flying, using a co-branded credit card, or spending with partner hotels and car rental agencies. The higher your status, the higher you are on the upgrade list.

While free upgrades are getting rarer as more people pay for premium seats, having status still gives you the best shot when a seat opens up. This is a long-term strategy to get business-class seats on your next flight.

4. Look for “Business-Lite” and Premium Economy Fares

If you want more comfort without the full business-class price, look for airlines that offer a middle-ground product.

These “business-lite” or premium economy cabins provide a significant upgrade from economy at a much lower cost. They are a fantastic way to find cheap business class flights.

For example, Norse Atlantic’s Premium cabin offers wider seats with a massive recline and far more legroom. Icelandair’s Saga Class is similar, feeling more like domestic first class with wider seats and better meal service.

Some budget carriers even offer true lie-flat seats. German airline Condor, for instance, offers transatlantic business-class fares starting around $2,000 round-trip.

Also Read: Forget Pricey Tickets: Here’s the Google Trick Smart Travelers Use for Cheap Flights

5. Fly from a Bigger Airport with a Repositioning Flight

Where you fly from matters. Major international hubs have more competition among airlines, which drives down prices.

If you live near a smaller regional airport, you can often save a thousand dollars or more by booking a separate, cheap flight to a larger airport for your long-haul journey. This is known as a repositioning flight.

For example, a business-class ticket from Cleveland to Paris might cost $3,600. But a flight from New York City to Paris on the same dates could be significantly cheaper.

By booking that cheaper flight and a separate ticket from Cleveland to New York, you can unlock huge savings.

6. Volunteer to Take a Later Flight

Patience can be very profitable. Airlines often sell more tickets than there are seats on a plane.

When a flight is overbooked, they ask for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for compensation. This is your moment to negotiate.

If a gate agent is looking for volunteers, you have leverage. The initial offer might be a travel voucher, but you can ask for more.

Politely inquire about cash, meal vouchers, or a hotel stay if it’s an overnight delay. You can also ask for an upgrade to business class on your new flight.

Before you volunteer, quickly check the airline’s app to see if there are premium seats available on the next flight. This knowledge gives you a powerful negotiating tool.

7. Sign Up for a Flight Deal Tracking Service

Finding cheap business class flights can feel like a full-time job. Why not let the experts do it for you? 

Subscription services like Going and Ashley Gets Around have teams dedicated to finding incredible deals and mistake fares, which they deliver right to your inbox.

Going’s Elite tier ($199/year) focuses specifically on first- and business-class deals. They’ve found deals like Boston to the Netherlands for $1,999 round-trip. Ashley Gets Around is another service that only sends premium cabin deals.

These services are also the best way to catch a “mistake fare”—the holy grail of cheap flights. These happen when an airline accidentally publishes the wrong price. They are corrected quickly, but if you’re fast enough, you can book them.

8. Fly on an All-Business-Class Airline

For a truly premium experience at a lower price point, consider flying with a boutique all-business-class airline.

These carriers have smaller planes with only business-class seats, allowing them to offer a luxury product for much less than legacy airlines.

La Compagnie, a French airline, offers transatlantic flights with lie-flat seats at roughly half the price of major carriers.

Another option is BeOnd, a Maldivian airline that provides a premium leisure experience.

These airlines focus on providing a comfortable and stylish journey without the massive overhead of a multi-class cabin, passing the savings on to you.

This is a surefire way to get business-class seats on your next flight.

Your Upgraded Adventure

Flying in business class doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime splurge.

With the right strategies, from bidding on upgrades and leveraging points to finding niche airlines, you can make it a regular part of your travels.

It takes a bit of flexibility and planning, but the reward is arriving at your destination refreshed and ready to explore.

Now you have the tools to get business-class seats on your next flight and travel the world in style!