International Business Etiquette

Business networking international - International Business Class Airfare

January 6th, 2008

“The average business traveler will spend three years in flight, two years traveling to and from airports, 28 months waiting for flights (that are on time), 11 months waiting for connections, and more than three months just searching for a parking spot,” according to the National Travel Association.

Take the classic business formula: time = money and you have yourself one hugely expensive dollar-drain. As such, there is an apparent conflict between the need to travel abroad and the need to save on expenses - a conflict that can be resolved by getting cheaper international business class airfares.

Here’s how you do it:

Frequent Flyer Programs

There is no cheaper way of getting international business class airfare than to enroll in the airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Better yet, try to have loyalty membership from at least two of the major world alliances. Not only will this ensure you cheaper airfares, this will also allow you to attain an elite status where you can enjoy special perks, including free

lounge access, upgrade priority, and seating privileges. Of special note, some US airlines automatically upgrade you to first class if there is space available.

All-Business Class Carriers

There are a few carriers that offer “all-business class” seats. These include MaxJet and EOS Airlines that offer a great deal flying from certain destinations.

You can also save on your international business class airfare by flying some of the more off-beat airlines. Air India, Pakistan International, Iceland Air and Kuwait Airways all offer excellent airfares that are undercut by up to 60% of the regular business class cabins of the major carriers. If you are traveling to Asia, be sure to

check the minor Asian carriers for good value deals.

Stay Informed

Airlines are always making special offers of their international business class airfares. To get the latest on these special offers, sign up to the mailing lists of the major airlines. Also, pay attention to the trend in international business class airfares. Major airlines will often cut down on their international business airfares if the other airlines are giving discounts.

Upgrade to Business Class

This is more like a trick and is not guaranteed to work each time, but you can try booking an economy class ticket to your destination and once you arrive at the airport you can ask the check-in officer to upgrade you to business class. Some airlines offer one-way upgrades on international flights for a cost that is significantly cheaper than booking a business class or first class outright.

Note that some airlines won’t allow you purchase upgrades. So it helps if you ask the booking agent if they allow upgrades once you get to the airport.

Premium Economy Seats

As an alternative to the above tip on getting cheaper international business class airfare, you can purchase a premium economy seat. This is somewhere between an economy class seat and a business class. In a way, this is a better option since you are more likely to get a free upgrade to business class if the flight happens to be overbooked.

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International Business Management

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