A rare summer business class fare sale! Pictured: Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Batllo in Barcelona (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
There’s a rare fare war brewing for business class flights across the Atlantic. We know this is a good deal because standard business class fares usually run in the $5,000-$8,000 range. Today they are running as low as $1,799 round trip.
What we are finding today represents a savings of more than 50%– some business class round trips are in the <$2,000 range on a variety of airlines, although most seem to be on American or British Airways. However we are seeing several low fares on smaller carriers like Air Canada, Icelandair, Turkish and TAP, among others. Most fares require a stop enroute, but there are a handful of deals on nonstops, too.
What’s crazy about this sale is that many of these these fares are good from May all the way through January 2018. So if you have plans to fly over the pond, why not do so in lie-flat luxury (and earn those fat mileage bonuses)?
TIP: During the peak summer travel season (mid-June through mid-August) these business class fares will run only slightly above inflated economy class fares during that period. So why not bump up?
This is the Captain Kirk seat– one of the two best seats in Aer Lingus new biz class on its A330 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
Ready to lie flat? Then check out these sample fares and head over to Google Flights for a look around! And keep coming back. This fare war seems to be just beginning and could expand to other carriers and routes. Or it could just go away.
Most of the best deals (e.g. those under $2,000) are from East Coast cities, however, a few good deals are popping up in the West, too, such as Phoenix-Dublin for just $1,940, or SFO-Zurich for $2,225.
Remember one of our most important travel skills: If you see a fare that looks good to you, BUY IT. Don’t wait around.
Atlanta: London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam $1,900; Lisbon, Madrid $2,300
Chicago: Barcelona, Madrid, Zurich $2,800
Dallas: Madrid, Barcelona, Rome $1799; London $2,009
Houston: Paris, Madrid, Barcelona $1,800; Amsterdam $2,700
Los Angeles: Paris, Rome $3,600
Miami: Madrid $1,900
New York: Rome, London, Zurich $2,300
Phoenix: Dublin $1,940
San Francisco: Zurich $2,225; Copenhagen, Stockholm $2,900; Dublin $3,100; Helsinki $3,225 (Finnair nonstop)
San Jose: Barcelona $3,500; London $3,900
Seattle: Zurich $2,500; Madrid, Barcelona: $3,500 (On Icelandair, no lie-flat)
These fares were available Tuesday March 14 on Google Flights and are subject to change.
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Got a great deal on Virgin Atlantic from SFO to LHR for $3,200. I can’t remember seeing Virgin down that low.
I booked and paid for a round trip Business Class from Washington Dulles to Paris, for $2,622 on United. See that Air France had about the same price, even though I hate United I get frequent flyer miles and both ways is on a 787 with the wide, Polaris seats. So I guess I am happy, gosh I paid about $300 more than I wanted to but I couldn’t find anything under $3,000 a week ago.
Sorry bout that Maarten, but it’s one of those you snooze you lose sales. Fares were as low as $1800 from ATL at one point when this post went live. If you have not done so already, be sure to sign up for our daily updates so you can strike while the iron is hot. — chris
Have checked flights from ATL to London. Nothing below $3,300. Not so cheap.
“However we are seeing several low fares on smaller carriers like Air Canada, Icelandair, Turkish and TAP, among others.”
Smaller or similar? I suppose one could argue those air lines are smaller than AA or BA. 🙂
Also wondering how this is a big deal, last year saw J class east coast to Europe down to 1100 or 1200 keep an eye on the premium fare deals
Granted some the fares from W Coast are good but not great, but $1900 rt from Atlanta or Dallas and many other cities is a rare value. Looking again, we are now seeing fares on Delta drop to $1700 or so from east coast. Keep in mind these fares are not just for summer… good through Jan 2018.
I agree with Ryan. These are definitely decent fares, but nothing to write home about. The only one that seems noteworthy to me is SFO-ZHR for $2.2k, given the distance
This isn’t rare and Business class is hardly ever $5000 let alone 8. I can find sub 3K almost anytime and these fare wars are very often especially in summer when leisure travel is up and business down