Flying on a first-class airline must be a dream for many, especially those who are frustrated with traveling on economy classes for a long time.
But if you dig deeper, you may be lucky to find some amazing world-class airlines that offer first-class flights on a budget. More specifically, at the price of economy class!
Crazy, right? But it’s true, and we’re going to share with you five proven ways to get this wonderful facility along with A1 services.
Want to make your dream come true?
Then, keep reading.
5 Proven Ways to Get Cheaper First-Class Flights
In this section, we’re going to shed light on the top five practical ways you can fly on first-class airlines at a reasonable price.
You may already know about them if you travel internationally on a regular basis. However, having a fresh look at them might come in handy for you in your next business travel or merely a globetrotting venture.
So, before you prepare your travel backpack, check out the following list:
1. Keep an Eye on the Sales
If you’ve noticed, many airlines offer sales on their tickets now and then. Honestly, this may be a jackpot for an avid traveler like you. During sales, you may be able to get a good bargain to fulfill your first-class flight desire.
If you can wait a little, you may get amazing flight sales from top airlines, like British Airways, one of the notable names in the business.
Usually, airline companies throw sales offers throughout the year. However, some particular times include Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Boxing Day, etc.
Also, airlines offer flight deals every week depending on the fluctuating demand. You can crack a flight bargain in months like January (domestic flights) and August (international flights).
Moreover, even though getting a sales deal during the Christmas season is a hard nut to crack, you may be lucky enough to get a flight deal on Christmas Eve. It’s because most travelers have reached their destination through either domestic or international flights to spend the occasion with their families.
2. Make an Advance Reservation
One of the most viable ways to get cheaper business-class flights is to make an advance reservation. It seems the more advanced you book your ticket, the cheaper it comes.
Nonetheless, a far too advanced booking may cost you more than usual. As per most travelers’ experiences, international flights can be purchased at a reasonable price at least 5-6 months before departure.
On the other hand, you must book at least 2-3 months before departure when it comes to a domestic flight. To be on the safer side, you may check the ticket prices even longer before the said durations.
It’s true because the front seats or the first-class seats are booked by most businessmen or elite travelers way faster than you think.
3. Choose the Weekends to Fly
Flying on weekends is a clever way to get cheaper business-class flights. But sadly, for regular travelers, it’s an irksome job to get a cheap weekend getaway flight.
Naturally, weekends are a favorite or, rather, a necessary time for all professionals to fly to different cities or states. So, it’s natural to see high traffic on flights during this time.
However, a funny thing is that first-class flights may be available during this period at a cheaper rate compared to economy classes. So, keep in touch with the ticketing agents to book your business class flights on a budget.
4. Use Your Points to Upgrade
Another proven way to book budget first-class tickets is by utilizing your points to upgrade. Points are added to your name when you’re a member of a frequent flier points program.
Then, you can use these points to upgrade your regular seats to a better arrangement. Facilities you can get from this point of utilization are priority boarding or airport lounge access.
But it’s best to ask the airlines what your point redemption can be on your next flight. If you’re a regular flier of the same airline, having an elite status with them, chances are you may get a more premium seat arrangement than regular.
5. Make a Round Trip Reservation
A practical trick to save on business class flights is to make a reservation for a round trip. You may know this trick already, as you might’ve tried this on your regular class tickets many times.
Be it international or domestic, this method works best from a financial standpoint for all. The primary reason for it to work mostly is that airlines don’t want their seats to fly empty on their way back to base.
Hence, they try to reward their passengers with those empty seats that belong to first-class packages. Even so, you’re free to cancel or change the schedule of your return ticket nowadays if you’re unsure of your return time.
Final Words
Flying in a business class or first class may be a dream for many, but naturally, this luxury doesn’t come easy and cheap. However, following some practical guidelines like we’ve mentioned above may work for you.
Scoring affordable business-class seats will be much easier if you try out these five tips. But you must be wary about the flight updates and news.
Airline pricing is mostly critical. Hence, staying abreast of their sales, advance booking, point programs, etc., should be a way to make your next flight a dream come true.
One of the many things that Covid-19 has impacted severely over the last 6 months, is the international traveling including its relevant sectors.
It is very understandable why such lay off from road as well as air has been applied on people, yet the wanderlust souls from around the world have already started huffing due to this everlasting immobility.
Not to uplift the insensibility of wandering about the streets and institutions needlessly but to share certain nooks and cranny on the current covid-19 situation, I am going to run down a few things on traveling in this blog.
Bear with me down the following segments to know more.
Update on Crossovers: International and Domestic Traffic
It’s been half a year since the global commuting has been baffled by the covid-19. To keep things under control, both domestic and international flights, by-roads, and interconnected routes have been more or less locked.
Depending on what measures different countries have taken and what progress they have attained regarding the pandemic, these restrictions are lifting off at diverse rates.
Below, I shall shed some lights on the current country wise travel restriction status.
Country Wise Travel Restriction
Since, it’s not possible to round up each and every country’s status in a single post, I have made a rundown of a few countries from each continent in the following.
Perhaps it would give you a snapshot of the geographical states around the world in this regard.
Asia
Singapore
Having over forty thousand active cases reported of covid-19, followed by 26 death till now, Singapore is taking no chance with this viral manifesto in terms of international travel.
All foreigners will be disallowed to enter the country except for the ones with prior government authorization. The willing travelers must go through a few certain measures for access.
A foreigner may have to spend about $2000 to stay in a self-isolation facility for 14 days under the Stay Home Notice (SHN). Those who had been in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Macau, China, or Vietnam, must test themselves entering Singapore at their own cost while being able to choose their self-isolation facility.
Exceptions under certain authorization can be made for the long-term pass holders such as Work Pass, Student’s Pass, Dependent’s Pass, and Long-Term Visit Pass.
South Korea
South Korea has imposed a significant restriction on travelers from China, especially those originating from or coming across the Hubei province.
Chinese nationals’ passports have been invalidated if issued by the Wuhan Consulate at the Hubei province. But some special passport and visa holders such as consular, diplomats, officials from China may have entrance.
Besides, nationals from the United States, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guyana, Albania, Barbados, Ireland, and a few more countries have permission to access South Korea. SK’s own nationals are allowed to enter the border in their way back home.
India
Being a huge country with a massive population and social interactions, India has advertently contrived the international flights for a certain period.
A few Indian nationals under certain categories may enter the country on special arrangement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
While the cargos containing necessary commodities are allowed to fly into the country, foreign business partners and individuals require their business and employment visas anew.
The certain restriction seems obvious due to nearly two lac active covid-19 cases, followed by a death toll above fourteen thousand.
Pakistan
Pakistan seems to have lifted off the international flight restrictions in their country except for the Gwadar and Turbat territories.
The Pak government has facilitated a thermal screening point in each international airport for foreign travelers. Both free and paid isolation facilities are available for quarantining the travelers upon being tested.
It completely depends on the test result if a newly arrived passenger would stay in a government-sponsored quarantine or in the self-isolation facility arranged on his/her own.
As of this week, Pakistan has recorded more than one lac covid-19 diagnosed cases whereas a 3000+ have died so far.
Bangladesh
Flights from Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Nepal, the Maldives, and a few more countries have been suspended. However, the travelers holding pre-arranged visas must procure a medical certificate updated within 72 hours before departure.
The certificate must claim a negative covid-19 for the holder in English. The certificate in any other language must be translated into English before submitting to the airport authority.
Business travelers must have confirmation letter from the Board of Investment (BOI) for entry. If any traveler fails to show a medical certificate carrying a covid-19 negative or found covid-19 positive upon being tested at the airport, the individual shall be quarantined within the stipulated facility for 14 days.
Bangladesh reported to have identified more than 1.5 lac corona cases while its death toll has reached nearly two thousand.
Africa
Algeria
Algeria has shut down its borders altogether (sea, air, land) to prevent any international entry or exit.
Its government is planning to take more effective steps to restrict its citizens from worsening the covid-19 situation within their country.
More than thirteen thousand covid-19 cases have been identified and the number of demises has crossed nine hundred.
Benin
Benin’s government has closed the land border while its commercial flights have gone down under the restriction too.
The international travelers are strictly instructed to follow a self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving into the Benin airport.
Benin has reported nearly twelve hundred cases and its death numbers have just crossed twenty.
Egypt
Egypt has just received an international flight from Ukraine on the 1st of July, 2020 after a 3-month hiatus on the international tours and travel due to covid-19 pandemic.
Nearly 200 passengers arrived at the Hurghada International airport on that day. All passengers wear greeted by the Red Sea governor, Amr Hanafi, who also persuaded them for a cordial thermal scanning and disinfection process before leaving the airport.
14 EgyptAir flights bound for a number of countries will be departing from Egypt soon transporting nearly two thousand passengers.
Tourism industry as well as the international tourists will be glad to have seen the revival of the travel facilities of Egypt. The country has already produced approximately seventy thousand cases and accepted about three deaths out of covid-19.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has announced a state of emergency throughout the country, which shall last until September this year.
Their international borders are shut down while the returning citizens will face a mandatory quarantine for 3 days at Skylight Hotel at their expense. Afterwards, they must put up with a 14-day homebound.
On the other hand, the international travelers must follow a 7-day quarantine at a government chosen hotels, ensued by an additional 7 days self-isolation at possible homes or other accommodations.
This nation has encountered close to six thousand covid-19 positive cases whereas more than hundred people have died because of this virus.
Kenya
All international and commercial flights in Kenya have been suspended due to covid-19 situation. Only exceptions are emergency aircraft, medevac, repatriation, and humanitarian aid flights.
The nationwide curfew was declared to remain until July 5th, which has been rescheduled for an extended 30 days starting from July 7th.
Death in Kenya reached nearly 150 out of four thousand positive cases of covid-19.
Europe
Switzerland
Talk about traveling to beatific places, Switzerland would pop up in any globetrotter’s bucket list. The Swiss government has softened the covid-19 state restrictions recently.
Still, travelers from the alarming countries and areas won’t be permitted to enter the Swiss land except the service holders and permanent residents of the country.
Many schools, parlors, religious institutions, bars, museums, and hospitals have resumed. Besides, borders with UK, and EU and EFTA countries have resumed from June 15th.
The Swiss nation has gone through a stream of covid-19 positive cases numbering more than thirty thousand while the death toll depicts just about two thousand cases.
Italy
Italy has been one of the greatly exposed countries to covid-19 during the initial pandemic stages. This coarse state had made its government to establish high-alert emergency throughout the country until the advent of June.
The international travel restriction in Italy is now slightly relaxed. Travelers from EU countries, UK, and Schengen zone can enter the country. You must undergo quarantine if you want to enter Italy being outside the EU countries.
Mass gathering will be allowed in funerals, museums, etc. under safety protocols. Necessary outlets such as salons, hairdressers, restaurants, and the likes will be open with distance-restriction.
Though it’s a question of sheer necessity at this time, it’s amazing how the bars, gambling houses, arcades, and theatres are resuming their businesses! On the other hand, educational institutions are still remaining closed until further notice.
The grim number of covid-19 cases in Italy had gone over 240,000 while nearly 35000 citizens had left the earth.
France
The country of aesthetic cities, monuments, and institutions, France, has limited the entry of the travelers except those from EU countries, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Iceland, UK, Norway, etc.
These travelers must have an ITC (International Travel Certificate) for entry and transit in France followed by a voluntary 14-day self-quarantine on arrival.
Travelers from Schengen Zone can enter the French border on Non-essential entry.
As of now, France has reported nearly 170,000 corona cases and just about 30,000 deaths in this pandemic.
Bulgaria
The fresh and beautiful Bulgaria has limited the travel entry to the travelers from EU countries such as Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Sweden, and some more.
Only Non-EU citizens that are allowed to access Bulgaria are those having permanent EU Residency Visas.
All travelers entering Bulgaria must follow a 14-day quarantine at home or at other preferable shelters.
Bulgaria has reported comparatively a lesser number of corona cases than Italy and France. The death number has gone just over 250 recently.
Germany
Germany has gone through a harsh period during initial stages of the covid-19. Its death numbers have crossed 9,000 out of nearly 200,000 corona cases being recorded.
People from European Economic Area, the UK, Canada, Georgia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Uruguay will enjoy a relaxed condition in entering Germany now. Travelers from outside EEA shall be allowed into Germany if they are German, have residence permit or D-Visa.
As of July 2nd, the country has removed the constraints on traveling from Canada, Montenegro, Tunisia, Thailand, Australia, Georgia, etc. to Germany.
North, South, and Central America
Mexico
Despite having gone through a fatal series of deaths due to covid-19 (above 260,000), Mexico has opened its barriers to most of the countries. As a precautionary measure, the travelers need to be screened before leaving the border or airport. They might be quarantined if that is necessary.
As a regulation, a traveler must submit a complete form of “Cuestionario de identificación de factores de riesgo en viajeros” to the immigration on arriving Mexico.
The land borders with the US are still restricted until July 21st.
Canada
Canada seems to be operating its travel restrictions vehemently. No travelers from any country are permitted to enter Canada except those who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, immediate families to PRs, diplomats, airline crews, or coming from the US.
Temporary foreign workers, seasonal agricultural workers, caregivers, and seafood workers can enter the country upon proper verification. Foreign students with valid study permits can access the country.
Canada has seen more than 8,000 deaths due to covid-19 so far along with more than 100,000 confirmed cases.
Brazil
The vibrant and lively Brazil has imposed a prolonged cutback on the travelers from all over the world until July 29th. People only with certain visas and permits will be allowed to enter the country.
Technical plane transit for refueling can enter Brazil given that its passengers don’t dislodge during the transit.
Brazil scarily tops the both deaths and positive cases in covid-19 being recorded with nearly 65,000 demises and more than 500,000 active cases.
Peru
Only Peruvian nationals are permitted into the country until July 31st.
The travelers must submit a “Declaracion Jurada de Salud” upon arriving at the airport. There will be a 14-day quarantine for the travelers upon screening.
Airline crews have to self-isolate themselves at hotels during their entire stay in Peru.
Peru accounts for above 300,000 active corona cases so far while its death numbers are closing to 11,000.
Costa Rica
Bad news for the bird-watchers as Costa Rica’s government has extended its travel restriction until August 1st. Travelers from the covid-19 controlled countries will be permitted entry upon thorough verification.
The country has accounted for nearly 5,500 corona cases and 23 people have died out of covid-19 so far.
Panama
Panama’s restriction to travelers from all around the world will stay until July 22nd. Exceptions are the humanitarian flights into the country.
The confirmed corona cases in Panama have exceeded 40,000 whereas almost 800 people have demised so far.
Things You Can Do While Traveling During Covid-19
Well, your ‘can do’ attitude will need to go through some scaling before getting your backpack ready in this pandemic. Shun your ego aside and consider the following possibilities of traveling:
You Can Drive: Unless it’s your charter or private jet, you cannot possibly fly to many parts of the world these days on international flights. Hence, check the map and draw the routes to check if you can drive. If yes, throw the backpack in your backseat and take the wheels.
Fly if You Have to: When flying is the only option left, you can always book the window seat, take short trip flights, board a limited-capacity plane, and of course, ensure the ventilation or HEPA filtering system of the plane.
Carrier and Sanitizer: To keep your items like cellphone, pouch, ID card, diaries, etc. from getting infected, you can put them in plastic zip bags. Take wipes or bleach-soaked clothes to sanitize your palms, fingertips, or the exposed parts of your body.
Things You Can’t Do While Traveling During Covid-19
Both technically and practically, there are more things you can’t do than you can while traveling during the covid-19.
Here’s the list:
No Mass Transports or Gathering: You can’t possibly take mass transports like buses, trains, or other packed wheels (small auto rickshaws, man-haulers) unless you want to risk yourself being in contact with infected people. You may also avoid going on camping or picnic for these activities have less access to emergency medical helps.
No Sneezing, No Coughing: You can’t just go around in these critical days spraying droplets on people. Wear face-covers or high-profile masks to keep yourself from inhaling what others might be spreading.
No Sitting and Eating: If you’re driving to reach somewhere, you better not spend time at a restaurant or café for eating. It’s safer during covid-19 to drive-through and takeout.
No Touching: It must’ve become so much of an obvious and repetitive advice that you shouldn’t touch any surface unnecessarily these days. Even if you have to put your hands on something, make sure you rub sanitizer (60% alcohol approx.) on both sides of your hands.
No Travel ‘Under the Weather’: This is a BIG NO for the frantic travelers who are not in a stable condition health wise. Any critical innate medical condition should prevent you from getting out of the house at the current situation. The covid-19 may affect anyone, but it deteriorates those who’re already living with low immunity.
Bottom Line
I know how it feels. At least, it’s much of a hardship for the globetrotters to stay at home for such a long time.
Covid-19 may seem to be a great depression given its prolonged effects and the unwanted demises around the globe. And maybe that’s why we should develop a sense of value for the earth, its resources, and of course, its people.
Traveling during covid-19 is not only risky, but it’s impactful on the overall global health and economy. As we have pulled through up to the second stage, we’re immersing into the community transmission. It goes without saying, we should be more cautious than ever now.
Travel only if you can assure yourself of a safe and secure destination. Calculate ten more times before confirming a business meeting abroad or even outside your locale.
Most importantly, maintain hygiene and stay up to date on covid-19’s global status.
References:
Algerian borders closed till covid-19 ends- The Morning Calls, africanews
Considerations for Travelers- Coronavirus in the US- CDC
Things You Should Know When Traveling during Covid-19- Travel Daily News
Overseas Travel: These Countries are Reopening Their Borders to Tourists- Escape
Travel Alert: Information on Covid-19 Related Restrictions and United Announces Additional Repatriation Flights from San Jose and Liberia (7 July 2020)- U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica
You know it’s alarming how the world is changing so rapidly. Tourist places are increasing more than ever. Natural and historical places are still there, but they now coexist with the increasing manmade amusement parks and entertainment zones.
It may not be wonderous if in 20 years, we’re deprived of all natural places like parks, hills, forests, lakes, rivers, creeks — thanks to the industrial giants around the world who’re making the green zones go exhausted through every means possible within their capacity.
However, there’s no way our wanderlust will ever wither away. I mean, you mustn’t dismiss your bohemian spirit so soon.
Born Bohemian is a travel related blog where you’ll walk, trudge, stride, or fly through myriad attractive places across the world.
BB not only publishes travel blogs, but shares guiding paths and maps to reach certain tourist spots. Furthermore, BB can bring you various travel gears, which you may purchase through its affiliation links.
If you want to learn about the amazing places, recreational activities, travel routes, ticket prices, certain restrictions, and relevant updates on travel, Born Bohemian is here to help.
So, follow my blog Born Bohemian and better sustain your ‘bohemian’ spirit.
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