Flying first class is the ultimate way to travel in comfort and style – with lie-flat beds, gourmet meals, and attentive service – but it usually comes at a steep price, often five times the cost of an economy ticket. The good news is that with some savvy strategies, you can experience those luxuries without paying a fortune.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to find cheap first class flights and make the most of loyalty programs, smart timing, and upgrade tricks.
First things first, let’s discover the difference between first class and business class so you can see clearly the reason for upgrading your flight (or just booking business class tickets and leaving the lavish first class a mystery).
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Business Class vs First Class
Business class and first class are two tiers of premium air travel, offering passengers enhanced comfort, amenities, and services compared to standard economy class. While both classes provide luxurious experiences, there are distinct differences between them, often varying by airline. Let’s explore these disparities with examples from renowned carriers.
Seat Configuration and Space:
First Class: Expect extra-spacious seats or even private suites. Many first class seats recline into fully flat beds with ample space and privacy. For example, Emirates’ First Class suites have sliding doors for complete privacy and even include personal minibars. Some top airlines offer only a handful of these ultra-exclusive seats. (On certain flagship routes, a first class suite can cost over $15,000, such as New York to Singapore in Singapore Airlines Suites). First class cabins often have a 1-1 layout or enclosed suites, meaning no direct neighbors.
Business Class: Still luxurious, but slightly less extravagant. Business class seats often lie flat as beds, too, though they may be a bit smaller or in a less private layout than first class. Many airlines now offer excellent business class products – for instance, Qatar Airways’ Qsuite features closing doors and even allows adjacent seats to convert into a double bed setup for couples. The space and privacy are superb, but not quite at the first-class’s “private mini-room” level. Business class cabins usually have more seats (e.g. 1-2-1 layout), so you might have a neighbor, but airlines strive to give direct aisle access and a lie-flat bed in long-haul business.
Onboard Amenities and Services:
First Class: Passengers enjoy the absolute top-tier amenities: designer toiletries, plush bedding, pajamas, and personalized service from dedicated flight attendants. Think caviar and champagne on demand. For example, Singapore Airlines provides Givenchy-designed sleepwear and Lalique amenity kits to its first class guests, along with top-shelf wines and a la carte dining. Some airlines even have onboard showers or lounges exclusively for first class (e.g. Emirates A380 Shower Spa for first class flyers). The ratio of crew-to-passenger is often higher, meaning very attentive, white-glove service.
Business Class: Excellent amenities as well, though a notch below first class. Expect gourmet meals and fine wines, lie-flat seats, noise-cancelling headphones, and maybe an amenity kit – but perhaps no pajamas or ultra-exclusive extras. For instance, Cathay Pacific’s business class offers luxurious Bamford bedding and dining on fine china, but first class on the same airline might add an extra level of personalization (like made-to-order gourmet courses). Service in business class is still very attentive, but the crew also attends to more passengers than in first class.
Dining Experience:
First Class: Truly gourmet. Meals are often curated by celebrity chefs and served course by course on elegant dishware. Many first class cabins offer dine-on-demand, so you eat what you want, when you want. Airlines like Lufthansa famously include delicacies like caviar service in first class. The wine and champagne selections include rare vintages (Krug or Dom Pérignon are not uncommon). It’s a five-star restaurant in the sky.
Business Class: High-quality multi-course meals, often reflecting local or seasonal cuisine, served on real plates with metal cutlery and linen. While the menu might be slightly less extravagant (maybe no caviar or vintage champagne), it’s still a great dining experience – far removed from economy class. For example, Emirates business class serves excellent multi-course meals with regional specialties. The key difference: first class may have more premium ingredients and more personalization (e.g. cook-to-order steak, whereas business might have a set menu choice).
Ground Services:
First Class: The red-carpet treatment begins on the ground. First class tickets typically come with priority check-in, fast-track security, and access to elite first class lounges (often separate from business class lounges). These lounges can have perks like spas, private nap rooms, à la carte dining, and even chauffeur service to/from the aircraft. For instance, Etihad’s First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi includes a spa and fine dining, and they offer a chauffeur drive for first class guests. Some airlines even have personal assistants escort first class passengers through the airport.
Business Class: Business travelers also get priority check-in, boarding, and lounge access – just a slightly less exclusive version. The lounges are premium (buffets, free drinks, quiet work areas, showers), but the first class lounge might be even more lavish. For example, British Airways business class flyers can use the Club World lounges, but First Class flyers access the more exclusive Concorde Room. Business class usually doesn’t include chauffeur transfers (except with some Middle Eastern carriers or by using credit card perks).
In summary, while both business class and first class offer premium experiences, first class generally provides a higher level of luxury, privacy, and personalized service compared to business class. However, the specific offerings can vary widely between airlines, and business class can still provide a very comfortable and enjoyable travel experience. But if you can snag a first class seat without paying an exorbitant price, you’ll enjoy the highest standard of air travel. And that brings us to our main focus: how exactly can you get cheap first class flights?
How to Get Cheap First Class Flights
1. Remain Loyal
One of the most effective ways to score cheap first class tickets is by remaining loyal to a specific airline or alliance. By joining their loyalty programs and consistently flying with them, you can accumulate points or miles that can be redeemed for upgrades or discounted fares. Stick to one or a few airlines, earn elite status, and watch the perks roll in.
For example, a United Platinum or Delta Diamond status flyer stands a much better chance of being bumped up to first class when space allows. Loyalty pays off in the long run with perks that can save you money on first class.
2. Use Elite or Airline Credit Cards
Leveraging the right travel credit cards can unlock a treasure trove of first class perks and points. Many airlines offer co-branded credit cards, and there are also premium travel cards, that give huge sign-up bonuses – often tens of thousands of points – which you can use toward first class flights. For instance, airline cards like the Delta SkyMiles American Express or United MileagePlus Visa often come with 50,000+ mile bonuses, enough for a one-way first class award in some cases.
General travel cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, etc.) let you transfer points to various airlines, giving flexibility to top off whichever program you need. Beyond points, these cards frequently grant benefits like airport lounge access, priority boarding, or even annual companion tickets for first or business class. Using a card for everyday spending essentially means you’re earning miles for free travel.
Strategy: pick a card that aligns with your preferred airline or alliance, hit the minimum spend to earn the bonus, and you could be more than halfway to a first class ticket just from that bonus. Also, many cards grant elite-qualifying credits or upgrade certificates that help you experience first class cheaper or more often.
Top Credit Cards for First Class in 2025:
| Card | Sign-Up Bonus | Annual Fee | Best For |
| Amex Platinum | 80,000 points | $695 | Lounge access, transfer partners |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | 60,000 points | $95 | Flexible points, travel redemptions |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum | 60,000 miles | $350 | Delta upgrades, companion tickets |
Pro tip: Use cards for bills/dining; pair with airline shopping portals (e.g., AAdvantage eShopping) for bonus miles
3. Fly When Business Travelers Don’t
Weekend flights are often less crowded with business travelers, leaving more premium seats up for grabs and at lower rates. Take advantage of this by booking flights on Saturdays and Sunday mornings, when demand for first class seats tends to be lower. You might just find yourself enjoying luxury for less.
Also consider off-peak seasons: flying to Europe in, say, October instead of June can yield much lower first/business class fares. Airlines gauge demand and often drop premium cabin prices on routes and dates that leisure travelers favor (since leisure travelers are more price-sensitive).
4. Watch for the Open Seat
This is a bit of a Hail Mary, but it has worked for some: if you’re on the plane and see an open first class seat as the cabin door is about to close, politely ask a flight attendant if you can move up. In the past, spontaneous free upgrades were more common; today they’re rare, but you might get lucky once in a while. At worst, the crew will say no; at best, you enjoy first class for free. It helps if you’ve been extra nice to the staff and are dressed presentably (while there’s no official dress code for upgrades, looking put-together doesn’t hurt!).
Do note: airlines have become stricter about not giving away first class seats for free, since they’d rather sell last-minute upgrades. But if a seat is truly going to fly empty, there’s no harm in asking. Even if you don’t get a complimentary move, sometimes the attendant can offer you a paid upgrade on the spot at a steep discount. For example, if you ask at the gate or on board about an empty first class seat, they might quote a price far lower than it was during booking. The key is to listen for the announcement that boarding is complete and notice empty seats in first class.
5. Upgrade at Check-In
If you can’t snag a free upgrade, consider buying a last-minute upgrade during check-in. Airlines often offer discounted first class upgrades within 24 hours of departure if there are unsold premium seats. When you check in online (or at a kiosk or counter), keep an eye out for messages like “Upgrade to First Class for $XX.” These prices can be dramatically lower than the original fare difference. Airlines would rather make some extra money than fly a seat empty, so they’ll cut deals at the last minute.
6. Use a VPN and Clear Your Browser Cache
When searching for flights online, use a VPN and clear your browser cache to avoid dynamic pricing. This can help you find cheaper fares for first class airline tickets by preventing airlines from tracking your search history and raising prices accordingly.
7. Points Flights
One of the best answers to how to get first class flights cheap (or nearly free) is to use points and miles. This requires some planning, but the payoff is huge. Rack up miles in frequent flyer programs or transferable credit card points, then redeem them for first class tickets or upgrades. Many airlines allow you to upgrade from economy to first/business using miles plus a co-pay (which can be far cheaper than buying first class outright). In other cases, you can outright book a first class award ticket with miles – often for far less cash than paying the fare. For example, instead of paying $7,000 for a first class flight to Asia, you might use 120,000 miles and just pay $100 in taxes.
How to get these miles? Besides flying and credit card spend (as discussed above), you can even buy miles directly during promotions. Airlines often sell miles, sometimes at a discount – as low as ~1.2 cents per mile during sales. If a first class ticket costs $10,000, but you can buy the required miles for $2,000 – that’s a huge saving. In fact, savvy travelers use this method to get $30,000 luxury first class experiences for under $3,000 by buying miles strategically
8. Book Early and Be Flexible
Booking your flight well in advance and being flexible with your travel dates and routes can help you find cheaper first class options. Search for flights up to a year in advance, explore alternative routes, and consider flying to secondary airports to maximize your chances of scoring a great deal.
9. Be Open to Accidental Bucket List Experiences
Sometimes the key to flying first class affordably is thinking outside the box. This tip, often called the “accidental bucket list” strategy, means being open to alternative routes or destinations that can make a first class journey feasible.
For example, perhaps you’ve dreamed of visiting Sydney, Australia in first class – a ticket that often runs over $20,000 round-trip. One traveler found a clever workaround: there was first class award availability to Melbourne (but not Sydney), so they booked to Melbourne, enjoyed a bonus side trip at the Australian Open tennis tournament, then took a short inexpensive flight to Sydney after – thus ticking Melbourne and a major event off their bucket list by accident. The lesson is, don’t get tunnel vision on one exact route if it’s prohibitively expensive. Look at nearby airports or even entirely different trips that you could piggyback.
Another example: if Europe first class fares direct to Paris are sky-high, see if flying to, say, Brussels or Milan is cheaper and then take a train or flight to Paris. You might discover a new city and still save money. Positioning flights are another tool – you might fly economy or use miles to get to an international gateway where first class deals are better, then take your first class flight from there (e.g. drive or fly to New York to catch a cheaper first class flight to Asia, rather than flying from a small regional airport).
Additionally, seize unique opportunities. If an airline offers vouchers for volunteers to get bumped on an overbooked flight, consider taking it – those vouchers can fund your future first class ticket, or sometimes airlines will even offer to put volunteers in first class on the next flight as a thank-you.
10. Contact an Online Travel Agency
If hunting down deals sounds daunting, remember that premium travel agencies like AranGrant specialize in finding discounted first and business class tickets. Sometimes the best way to get cheap first class flights is to let an expert do the digging. Agencies have access to exclusive fares and consolidator tickets that aren’t advertised to the public. AranGrant, for instance, leverages partnerships with airlines and global networks to secure up to 70% off international business and first class airfares for our clients.
Moreover, using AranGrant gives you personalized service – you can tell them your budget and preferences, and we can watch for deals or use our volume discounts to meet that. The process is often hassle-free: AranGrant’s travel experts can handle everything from searching the best routes, booking the tickets, to assisting with seat selection or changes. This can be a godsend if you’re trying to arrange a complex itinerary or a last-minute trip.
Why Book First Class Flights with Arangrant?
Booking first class flights with Arangrant offers a plethora of benefits and advantages that enhance your travel experience from start to finish. Here are several reasons why you should consider booking first class flights with us:
- Expertise and Personalized Service: Arangrant boasts a team of experienced travel experts who are dedicated to providing personalized service tailored to your needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for the best first class deals, customized itineraries, or special requests, our knowledgeable agents are here to assist you every step of the way.
- Access to Exclusive Deals and Discounts: As a premier travel agency, we have access to exclusive deals and discounts on first class flights that may not be available elsewhere. Our partnerships with major airlines and global networks enable us to offer competitive prices and value-added benefits, ensuring that you get the most out of your first class experience without breaking the bank.
- Seamless Booking Process: Booking first class flights with Arangrant is hassle-free and efficient. Our user-friendly online platform and dedicated customer support make it easy to search for flights, compare options, and secure your booking with confidence. We handle all the details, from seat selection to itinerary changes. You just need to plan where you want to fly, and then you can relax and enjoy a seamless travel experience.
- VIP Treatment and Exclusive Perks: When you book first class flights with us, you can expect VIP treatment and exclusive perks that elevate your journey to new heights. From priority check-in and boarding to access to luxurious airport lounges, we offer a range of premium amenities and services designed to enhance your travel experience and ensure maximum comfort and convenience.
- 24/7 Customer Support: At Arangrant, we understand that travel plans can change unexpectedly, which is why we offer round-the-clock customer support to assist you whenever you need it. Whether you have questions about your itinerary, need to make changes to your booking, or require assistance during your trip, our dedicated team is available 24/7 to provide prompt and professional assistance.
- Peace of Mind: When you book first class flights with Arangrant Travel Agency, you can have peace of mind knowing that your travel needs are in good hands. We prioritize customer satisfaction and strive to exceed your expectations at every turn, ensuring that you have a memorable and stress-free travel experience from beginning to end.
In summary, booking first class seats with Arangrant offers unparalleled benefits, including expertise and personalized service, access to exclusive deals and discounts, a seamless booking process, VIP treatment and exclusive perks, 24/7 customer support, and peace of mind. Experience luxury travel at its finest with Arangrant and make your next journey an unforgettable one.
Read also: Why Business Class Costs So Much
Scoring cheap first class flights is not as elusive as it may seem. By following these insider tips and tricks, you can unlock the luxury of first class travel without breaking the bank. So go ahead, treat yourself to the ultimate travel experience and fly first class for less. And don’t forget to check Arangrant for deals on your itinerary. We can handle all types of bookings, including the most complex ones. Contact us and try our impeccable service!
