I always fly business class. Here’s what to check when booking a flight:

When you fly business class, you want the best travel experience. In the end it’s what you pay for and it’s usually not cheap. For international flights, business class airfares often cost more than $3,000.

I love to travel, so I always book business class. I think it’s worth mentioning that I don’t always pay in cash. I usually use my travel credit card points to book expensive flights. If you like to travel, this type of card is a great option to purchase.

I fly business class often, so I’ve figured out which perks are most important to me. If you’re wondering what to look for, check out my list every time I book a flight.

flat seat

Business class on long-haul flights may have fully reclining seats or larger recliner-style seats (similar to domestic first class seats). I’ve experienced both, and I can tell you, they are very different.

If you’re booking business class on a long-haul flight, make sure there’s a seat that allows you to fully recline. Being able to convert your seat into a bed makes you much more comfortable and makes your sleep much easier. Recliner style seats are better than economy seats, but are still uncomfortable if you sit for more than a few hours.

When booking a flight, you can check to see if the airline has fully lie-flat seats in its business class. Or go to the SeatGuru website. Enter information about the flight you want to book and SeatGuru will show you the seat map.

Departure airport lounge options

A business class ticket usually grants access to one or more airport lounges. You may use lounges operated by the airline and/or its partners.

The quality of lounges varies, but it is always more comfortable to be in a lounge than in the boarding area. And if you’re flying internationally, there may be a high-end lounge available. Business class lounges in international terminals are often much fancier than what you’ll find before your domestic flight.

If you have multiple flight options, it’s a good idea to check each airline’s lounge at your departure airport. If one airline offers a lounge and another doesn’t, or if one airline has a more highly rated lounge, this can help you decide which airline to choose.

the most direct route possible

One of my flight booking rules is to get to my destination as quickly and directly as possible. Most of us have limited vacation time. The less time you spend traveling, the more time you have to enjoy your vacation. Additionally, problems are more likely to occur on flights with stopovers. Each transfer is another opportunity for a delay, missed flight, or lost checked baggage.

Some travelers book flights with more stops to save money. However, if you’re booking a longer flight to make business class cheaper, you might want to reconsider. You can save more by booking economy or premium economy on shorter flights. Trust me. It’s worth it.

a reputable airline

It’s more than fair to have high expectations for business class. Whether you pay with cash or mileage, you’ll pay a premium.

If there are multiple airlines to choose from, I like to read about them before I book. Check out the JD Power satisfaction rankings and read reviews from passengers who have flown the airline’s business class.

Problems can occur with any carrier. We cannot guarantee a perfect flight. But you can at least improve your chances by choosing an airline with a reputation for arriving on time and providing a good passenger experience.

Reasonable price with cash or mileage

Business class tickets are more expensive than economy class, but prices can vary significantly. I’ve seen tickets for over $5,000, but I’ve also found tickets for under $1,000.

The same applies when booking with mileage. Some tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 miles per way. Others will cost 100,000 to 150,000 miles or more one way. For these award tickets, most airlines use dynamic pricing based on demand, so there can be significant differences in flight prices depending on the date or time.

There are business-class deals, especially if you have frequent flyer programs or mileage through a credit card. You’re more likely to get a deal if you start shopping for flights early and are flexible about when you travel.

Business class has many benefits, including many I haven’t mentioned here. For example, the food is better, but you don’t base your travel plans on which airline has the best business class menu. We found that the above items had the greatest impact on the overall travel experience.

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