Ask Yourself These 3 Questions Before Buying a Business-Class Ticket

Flying business class is a more lavish way to travel, with premium seating, access to luxurious lounges, and elevated in-flight meals.  

But there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you add a business-class ticket to your online cart. Here are three to consider. 

1. Is the ticket price a good deal?

Business-class tickets can often cost thousands of dollars, so finding a good deal is probably important for most travelers. 

There are a couple of ways to do this. First, if you're a member of an airline loyalty program, check your email. Many airlines will offer business-class deals in their newsletters. They'll likely be for specific dates and destinations, which may be a good option if you keep your travel plans open-ended.

Second, you may want to consider signing up for a flight deal subscription service that does the heavy lifting for you. These services can save you a lot of time by listing business-class tickets from various airlines and many destinations. A few good ones are Skyscanner, Going, and Dollar Flight Club.    

Skyscanner is free, while others may charge up to a couple hundred dollars per year. But the savings from just one business-class flight deal could easily cover the cost of an annual subscription. 

2. Do I have travel rewards I can use?  

Savvy travelers know that having a credit card that earns them discounts on tickets is one of the best ways to score a good deal on business-class tickets. 

Each travel rewards card will have its own way of determining how you can use rewards toward business-class tickets, and you'll likely have to pay taxes and some other fees. Still, you could eventually earn enough rewards to pay very little for your business-class tickets. 

For example, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card (see rates and fees) has an excellent welcome bonus and allows you to earn rewards points with some purchases. The card also has no annual fee, making it a good choice for travelers who are trying to save the most money. 

3. Is the airline known for superior customer service?

This one might matter more to frequent travelers than to someone looking for a one-time deal on business-class tickets. Either way, if you're buying business-class tickets, you should look for an airline with amenities and customer service that give you the most bang for your buck.  

This matters because not all business-class flights offer the same amenities. If you want to spend time in a luxury airport lounge with high-end services, including showers, a personal concierge, and valet parking, you'll need to find the airlines and destinations that offer them.  

You may also want to consider which airlines rank as some of the best in customer experience. For example, according to J.D. Power, Delta and United Airlines rank near the top of the list for business-class and first-class travel satisfaction. 

How to travel business class for cheaper 

I already mentioned that using travel rewards is one of the best ways to pay for your business-class tickets, but it's worth reiterating that these cards really can help you save on this type of airfare. 

If you have a preference for a specific airline, applying for one of its cards may be a good way to do this. You can earn miles with purchases made with the airline credit card that you can use toward discounted flights. You'll often also get other perks like free checked bags, priority check-in, and even access to airport lounges.