The release of discounted Business Class flights provides travellers from New Zealand with a wide variety of choices. The challenge can sometimes be finding the special that works best for you. But does picking up a discounted Business Class airfare mean you have to miss out in other ways?
What’s Driving the Business Class Discounts?
Airline competition really benefits travellers to the UK & Europe and to a degree North America (competition between Air New Zealand and Qantas has become more intense). Interestingly, rather than “low-cost carriers” driving Business Class prices down, the discounts are primarily being driven by the return (post Covid) of more intense competition between established carriers and the return of sharp lead in fares from the likes of China Southern and Asiana.
In our article When is the best time to book a Business Class airfare to the UK & Europe we go into more detail around the type of specials that each of the major airlines adopts for the UK & Europe market and how that influences a decision on when to book.
Getting a Good Deal by Booking at the Right Time
In our blog Plan Ahead for Discounts on Business Class Flights to the UK & Europe we covered how airlines “reset” discounted Business and Premium Economy airfares at the start of the UK / Europe Earlybird season and gradually increase their prices as high season in the UK & Europe approaches (and the advent of Rolling Specials).
One of the first applications of the internet to booking airfares was to provide a channel for airlines to release last minute distressed inventory at a substantial discount. This approached influenced traveller behaviour resulting in purchasing decisions being delayed in the hope of getting a better airfare. As airline revenue management became more sophisticated, airline pricing moved to a model of rewarding passengers who booked early (like when Earlybird specials are on) and charging last minute travellers a premium (as they generally had a strong motivation to travel).
Obtaining a discounted Business Class or Premium Economy airfare (or a sharp lead-in fare) is therefore more about working with your Fine Travel Consultant to understand the best time to book rather than the discount reflecting a substandard product or missing out on some aspect of the premium cabin experience.
Is the Food Consistently Good in Business Class?
The airlines that are considered to be “true premium” carriers (like Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines) try and offer a point of difference in the quality of the food and wine onboard. Some airlines (like Singapore Airlines and Qantas) collaborate with celebrity chefs to enhance the onboard experience and Singapore Airlines has its Book the Cook service. Our feedback from clients (and Fine Travel Consultants) who have flown with China Southern and Asiana (as two examples of airlines with sharp lead-in fares) has been consistently positive (we have an example menu from China Southern in our review of their Business Class). The quality and range may not be to the same standard as Emirates, but it isn't "low cost inedible".
Singapore Airlines YouTube series “There’s No Detail Too Small” also provides an insight into their commitment to Business and First Class cuisine (and it’s a fun clip).
Do you Miss Out on Frequent Flyer Recognition?
This is a tricky one and has the unfortunate answer of “it depends”. Generally if the airline you are travelling with is part of the same frequent flyer alliance as the airline you have membership with, you should receive recognition, but not always. How much recognition depends on the airline and often how much of a discount is being offered on the Business Class airfare.
The most common trap is that some airlines offer discounted Business Class in a booking class that doesn’t accumulate frequent flyer points. So although you’re travelling in Business Class, you don’t get recognition for it.
So What Are the Downsides?
The good news is that you will generally enjoy the core elements of a Business Class experience. Some of the biggest differences:
- You might have a longer journey with an extra connection via Australia and then another stopover / transit before reaching your final destination and sometimes there are longer connection times.
- On rare occasions when flying to the UK & Europe you may have angled lie-flat seat on sector between an airline's hub and your final destination. Airlines flying from New Zealand to Europe generally offer lie flat Business Class seats as standard.
- The onboard service, cuisine and wine selection may not have the polish, selection or true quality of a premium airline.
- Communication may be less smooth where English is not the main language spoken onboard.
If the idea of being squeezed into an Economy Class seat all the way to London makes your stomach turn, the entry level pricing for Business Class becomes appealing – and you may be surprised with what is on offer.
