As someone who does not particularly enjoy flying, business class is something I’ve never felt compelled to spring for. The way I see it, I’m uneasy being trapped on an airplane anyway, so why would I spend what could be a lot more money to sit in a more comfortable seat and enjoy some in-flight perks when I could instead save my money and spend it on a nicer hotel or meals at my destination?
Still, I have friends who swear by business class tickets. And since my husband has done his fair share of business travel, he, too, will sometimes try to sway me to upgrade for a longer flight. (So far, he’s never won that argument, but he still tries.)
But it’s not just that I happen to think that business class isn’t worth the money. There can be a serious downside to flying business class all the time.
Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards
When you upgrade and can’t go back
The problem with business class is similar to the problem of lifestyle creep: Once you get used to a certain standard, it’s hard to go backward from there. But sometimes, financial constraints might force you to go backward. And then suddenly, your experience is ruined.
Imagine you get a raise at work and upgrade your apartment to a much larger space in a building with tons of amenities. If you then get laid off a couple of years later and are forced to move to a smaller apartment like you used to have, you might end up miserable after having gotten used to a nicer space — even if there was nothing wrong with your original apartment.
It’s sort of the same thing with business class. If you get too used to having a better seat and more in-flight amenities, you might really struggle if your circumstances change and you’re forced to go back to economy.
Furthermore, if you get so used to business class that you can’t go back, you might stretch your budget to pay for future trips. That could lead to you landing in credit card debt.
Consider flying business class sparingly
Not only might getting into the habit of flying business class make it tough to go back to economy, but it might create a situation where you’re spending so much to reach your destination that you hardly have any money to spend at your destination. If you’re flying across the country or world, wouldn’t you want the option to enjoy local cuisine, nightlife, and other attractions? The more you spend on a flight, the less money you have left over in your vacation budget for these other things.
That said, it’s okay to choose to fly business class under the right circumstances, such as if you’re taking a really long flight or you’re flying overnight. In the latter scenario, getting a decent night’s sleep on the plane could make it so you’re able to enjoy your first day of vacation without feeling exhausted — so that could be worth it.
Tips for booking business class tickets
If you’ve never flown business class but would love the experience on occasion, there are a few tricks you can employ to swing those costlier flights. First, if possible, fly to less expensive destinations you visit often with the same airline to rack up miles. Also, use a travel rewards credit card to cover your regular expenses, as you might rack up extra points or miles that make it easier to upgrade.
Many travel reward credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses that could make it possible to book a business class flight sooner rather than later. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, has a relatively low annual fee of $95 and a welcome offer of 75,000 bonus points worth over $900 when redeemed through Chase Travel. To get that bonus, you’re required to spend $4,000 within 3 months of opening your account.
All told, flying business class is a nice thing to treat yourself to once in a while. But doing it too often could backfire on you, so keep that in mind before you start booking business class as a matter of course.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.