For years, while travelers have had their pick of a number of discounted international coach fares, based on advance purchase, availability, and cancellation-change rules, business class fares have been relatively set.
Until relatively recently, in fact, usually the only way to have found a discount business class fare was going through a consolidator or tour operator.
Now that all is changing. British Airways, for example, has no fewer than 12 published business class fares at this time from San Francisco to London. This, in general, is a good thing for cost conscious fliers who want to avoid coach.
But as with most good things, there are a number of potential catches, especially for travelers who don’t read the fine print.
For domestic flights, most carriers charge $150 plus fare difference for any changes. And most international change fees are in the $200-250 range. For these business class fares, change fees can be $500 plus the fare difference.
In addition, some of the cheaper fares have as much as a 50 day advance purchase rule, and a seven-day minimum stay policy. In the toughest cases, for example, some super saver business class tickets are nonrefundable with no changes allowed. Period.
Other nonrefundable business class fares are changeable for a penalty, but it could be considerably harder to use up a $3,000 credit than a $300 credit, especially for non-frequent fliers.
In addition, whereas many coach fares, even a number of discount coach fares can be upgraded with miles or coupons, most of these inexpensive business class fares are absolutely not upgradable to first class at all.
Most of these conditions and others can be found in the fine print of an airline or other online booking site. And any travel agent who books much international travel should either be familiar with the rules and penalties, or know to check to give clients the correct information.
But, I have had several experienced business travelers tell me they have found these great fares, and the rules are not at all obvious. As with many deals, the price is always displayed more prominently than the restrictions.
In addition regular travelers who are used to standard domestic change fees, or who just rush through the booking process without reading carefully (and we know NO one does that), could easily find themselves in a very expensive situation.
Again, since some of these fares can represent savings up of to 70 percent over the full business class fares, they can be a great deal. But just read – or listen to – the rules very carefully.
photo by trexcali on flickr.com/creative commons (British Airways Club Class)
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
