First Class

Europe Business Class Airfare Deals from Aer Lingus

mike — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:07 +0000

Aer Lingus has launched business class airfare deals from New York, Chicago, and Boston to a range of European destinations including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, and more. Enjoy the luxury of business class for as low as $849+ each-way.

The offer from Aer Lingus lasts until November 30, 2009 and is good for travel between January 1 and April 30, 2010. Seats are limited, so the deals could disappear quickly.

Visit Aer Lingus for more details, and use our Deal Finder-Europe tool for economy airfare deals to Europe from your hometown.

Emirates First Class 2-for-1 Promo Code

mike — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:46:20 +0000

Emirates has a one-day buy one, get one “free” deal on first class airfare. Purchase a first class airline ticket from Los Angeles or San Francisco to any of Emirates’ 100 destinations, and receive a second first class airline ticket for free.

Book this special today (November 3, 2009) with promo code USCOMP9. Visit Emirates for more details and for info on taxes and fees.

Virgin America: Stay Golden Promotion

mike — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:36:37 +0000

Virgin America is celebrating it’s impending launch of flights from California to Fort Lauderdale with a special promotion for current eleVAte members (and potential frequent flyers).

The Stay Golden Contest involves photos, facebook, and an appeal for votes. It’s kind of like American Idol without all the singing and cranky judges. Visit Virgin America’s Stay Golden Contest for all the details, and check out cheap flights on Virgin America for the latest Virgin America deals from your hometown.

First Class Airfare Deals to Hawaii

mike — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:33:40 +0000

Hawaiian Airlines has launched first class airfare deals to Honolulu from a range of cities on the Mainland. First class airfare starts as low as $459+ each-way on some routes. Find deals from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, and more.

Visit Hawaiian Airlines for more details, and if first class deals still aren’t as low as what you’re looking for, use our Deal Finder-Hawaii tool for cheap coach flights to Hawaii from your hometown.

United Airlines: Will You Ever be Able to Upgrade Again?

mike — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:17:20 +0000

On the surface, United Airlines’ “free, unlimited upgrades” program sounds like a great change, especially for the business traveler. However, as Mark Ashley over at Upgrade: Travel Better is quick to point out, the changes to the upgrade program might actually be a “downgrade” when all is said and done:

“What United is doing is eliminating the 500-mile electronic certificates and the regional-upgrades. (International systemwide upgrade certificates for 1K travelers are unchanged. Upgrades booked with miles, which will soon carry a cash copayment, are otherwise unaffected by these changes.) Instead, all travelers with any elite status will be automatically eligible for an upgrade.”

Mark goes on to break down United Airlines’ new upgrade plan to show how Premier members will be affected. Take a look at “United downgrades its upgrades” for an in depth look at the changes to the program, and what those changes mean for frequent flyers.

Hawaii Vacation Packages

mike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:26:49 +0000

Hawaiian Airlines is making it a little easier for you to leave the Mainland behind and head to the Islands.

The carrier’s latest Hawaii vacation packages offer “roundtrip airfare on Hawaiian Airlines and a 3 night hotel stay at one of three luxurious Marriott Resorts in Hawaii.” Resorts include the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, and Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

You have to book your vacation package by November 3, 2009, for travel through May 31, 2010. Visit Hawaiian Airlines for more details, and check out the latest airfare deals on Hawaiian Airlines from your hometown.

Cheap Business Class Flights to Paris: OpenSkies Winter Sale

mike — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:11:31 +0000

OpenSkies has kicked off a winter airfare sale for flights from New York to Paris. Enjoy the luxury of OpenSkies’ business class (BIZ) for as low as $590+ one-way for travel between January 6, 2010 and March 31, 2010.

Purchase your business class airline ticket by Oct. 25, 2009 to take advantage of these deals. Visit OpenSkies for more details, and check out their BIZ Seat while you’re there.

If business class deals are still too steep, search FareCompare.com for cheap flights to Europe.

Pan Am First Class is Back (Kind of)

mike — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:52:11 +0000

The Cranky Flier got a chance to explore the glory days of First Class on Pan Am. He’s quick to point out that Pan Am isn’t back and that he’s not talking about first class on a freight train:

“Anthony Toth has recreated the front cabin of a Pan Am 747 in his garage, and I had the chance to go visit.”

Cranky’s photos show an incredibly detailed recreation of the old first class cabin, and they give a hint as to the luxury that travelers used to experience. The project is worth taking a look at for all plane enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a bit of nostalgia now and then. Check out “Your Chance to Fly Pan Am’s First Class” on The Cranky Flier.

Flight Delays: Business Travelers Get the Brunt

mike — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:19:26 +0000

The most recent flight delay data doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Perhaps it’s no surprise to Road Warriors, but several cities ranking at the bottom in on-time percentage are some of the country’s largest business centers.

Any experience dealing with extended delays in these cities?

From USA Today:

Percentage of flights arriving on time in the USA’s 100 largest metro areas. Annualized, June 2009

Bottom 10

Business Travelers & United’s “Subscription” Bag Fee

mike — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:34:15 +0000

United Airlines has added a wrinkle to the traditional bag fee. The carrier’s Premier Baggage fee gives you the chance to shell out $249/yr in order to check two bags for free every time you fly during the course of the year.

Now, this doesn’t seem like much of a deal for the ordinary traveler, but it could benefit business travelers (and large families), especially when you consider that the Premier Baggage plan covers up to 8 people traveling on the same confirmation number.

So, will United Ailrines’ move inspire other carriers to do the same? Can we expect a shift from the a la carte model to the long-term subscription model when it comes to airline fees? My guess is, we can expect more of both.

We’d love to hear from frequent flyers regarding United’s Premier Baggage Plan. Is this something that you’ll take advantage of? For more details (and some handy math calculations), check out Airline Fee: Pay United $249, Free Checked-Bags for a Year.