Recession Bargain: Business Class Tickets

Business Travel Cut Back

Yes, there are lots of unhappy road warriors today -- you'll find them sardined into the back of the planes with lots of empty seats upfront. And this is true even as some of these travelers dip into their own personal supply of miles for upgrades.

There is room at the top. So the airlines are playing "Let's Make a Deal." Why don't you take advantage of it?

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I just saw some business fares to London for about $1,800 roundtrip on Continental, and Lufthansa has flights from New York to Frankfurt for $750 each way. A little perspective: Normally a roundtrip, business class flight to Europe -- even with a 14-day advance-purchase -- would cost about $4,400. Buy your tickets less than 14 days in advance and the price jumps to nearly $6,000. And again, normally, the only bargains to be had required a 40- or 50-day advance purchase.

Want more good news? How about all the "business class Botox" we've been seeing lately -- you know, all the makeovers aboard the U.S. legacy network airlines. Finally, we're seeing more of those nifty lay-flat seats, 250 plus movies on demand, and when it comes to dining, lot's more pizzazz. How does "Rosemary-scented shrimp drizzled with garlic sauce served with lemon rice and artichokes" sound? Sounds good to me and to the chefs working for American Airlines.

This is the way flying should be -- and amazingly, it's within reach of a lot of us. I predict, these relative bargains in business class will continue well into the New Year.

Believe me, I know my prediction may seem at odds with the fact that we have lost a handful of "discount" business class airlines the past year, including MaxJet, EOS and SilverJet -- but maybe the timing just wasn't right. You have to wonder if these airlines would have survived if only oil hadn't started on its ominous ascent last spring.