3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free

Hello, dear Readers! Do you want to travel in business class for free? I am especially excited for today’s post because with the tips below, you can travel in business class, regardless of your salary or budget. This is the launch of the first (of many!) freebie on this blog, and it is a good one.

Have you dreamed of stepping into a plane and being escorted, welcome drink in hand, to your lay-flat seat or luxury suite? And is that dream out of your budget? Then this post is for you.

With these simple tips, flying in business class can become an annual activity for you and your family. You don’t need to get a new job, or to inherit a fortune. With a few simple tricks, luxury travel is within reach.

Options for Free Business Class Travel

Here are a few possible itineraries you can use with your business class trip:

Europe

Have you dreamed of going to Europe to experience the beauty and old world culture? Imagine art galleries, historic castles, and so much delicious food!

Flights to Europe from North America are typically 75,000 points one way on most airlines, or 150,000 points round-trip. This is a totally achievable level points to accumulate in three to six months with credit card bonuses. I detail the complete strategy in the free download, 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free. 

Asia

Asia is a hub for spiritual travel. From the temples to holy mountains, shrines and rivers, there is a deep reverence for spirituality and God in all forms. For the spiritual seeker, Asia is a must-visit.

In addition, Asia has some of the world’s most important cultural centers, bustling cities, beautiful beaches with inexpensive resorts, and incredible food.

By combining points and using partner airlines that fly to Asia, such as JAL (Japan’s national airline), Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, and Air India, you can easily score business class flights to Asia for free with the tips provided in 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free.

For Asia, consider using points on two separate airlines – one airline each way.  You can also combine free flights with upgrade options and get the whole family in business class. Remember that each spouse can apply for the card individually, doubling the number of points you can earn.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand offer some of the best deals in business class. You can often get business class tickets for the same, or less, than flights to Europe or Asia. It can take 18+ hours of flying to reach Australia or New Zealand, which makes business class an even better value.

New Zealand and Australia boast incredible natural beauty and diversity. Visit world-class Sydney, stop in and see the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, then head off to Auckland and explore the beaches and hot springs of New Zealand’s North Island or Milford Sound on the South Island.

Need more ideas? At Cape Reina in Auckland, you can see where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean in a dramatic swirl. Feel like you are standing on the edge of the world!

More options to explore

With free business class travel, you arrive in luxury, well rested, and ready to enjoy your holiday. You also either have an extra budget for other activities, or a substantial savings for future goals. In either case, you win.

In an upcoming freebie, you’ll get ideas to book hotel nights for free. Yes, it is totally possible to take a luxury vacation for free, or nearly free.

Sample Itineraries (and a caution)

Here are a few itineraries I have booked with miles earned through the steps described in the 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free:

One way from Newark, NJ to Dusseldorf, Germany.

This flight was booked using United points on the day of travel, and was a great deal! I was returning home after an extended stay in the USA and only needed a one-way flight.

Points used: 50,000 miles plus $75 for a last-minute booking fee.

Roundtrip from Auckland, New Zealand to Honolulu, Hawaii to Palm Beach, USA, and back to Auckland (via Honolulu).

This trip was booked while I was living in New Zealand. It was especially fun, as I stopped over in Hawaii and visited my friend en-route to attend a conference in Palm Beach. My (9 months pregnant) friend and I drove all over the Island of Kauai in the two days we had together and ate our weight in ice cream and shave-ice!

I was in Palm Beach at a luxury hotel (paid for by business), and then headed back home. I choose to schedule a night in Honolulu on the return as well, to enjoy a little more of the Aloha spirit!

Points used: 150,000 miles plus $35 in booking fees

Roundtrip from Paris, France to Bangkok, Thailand.

This was another trip to meet up with friends before attending a conference.

At the time, I was in Paris as a tourist, and it seemed like an easy departure point for Bangkok.I used United miles on Thai Airways, one of their partners. For full details on using partner airlines, see 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free.Thai Airways flies from most major European cities, so this same itinerary would work from many locations.

Points used: 80,000 miles plus $15 in booking fees

A word of caution

I have never used miles to fly on any itinerary that goes through London. This is because, nearly always, you will be charged at least $450 in airport taxes. It is not worth it. Unless your final destination is London, it is better to explore alternative routes through Lisbon, Paris, Amsterdam or other cities.

If your final destination is London, then sometimes British Airways will allow you to book award tickets without the high taxes, if you are starting within Europe or Asia (not North America). Otherwise I recommend flying into another city (pick one you’ve always wanted to see!) and getting an inexpensive EU or mileage flight (very low in points) to reach London.

Extra points for free flights

In addition to the strategies mentioned in the free download,you can buy a few extra miles or points through your airline to make the difference to get that desired flight. Keep in mind that buying points is not usually a great deal, and should only be used in the following instances:

1. You have nearly enough miles, and are 15,000 miles or less short of your goal. In that case, if you have exhausted other options outlined, it is usually worth it to buy the miles and get the reward.
2. Your miles are about to expire. If you earned your miles and then couldn’t take your trip for any reason, buying a small amount of additional miles will keep your miles from expiring. In this case, buy the minimum allowed.

United bonus tip

With United miles, if you have already booked a flight with them, you can buy extra miles for as low as two cents per mile (going rates are usually 2.5 to 3.5 cents per mile).  If you really want to take advantage of this, message me and I will walk you through the process or make a new post on it.

Don’t forget the lounges

In addition to the comfort and high quality meals on the actual flights, your business class trip will include lounge access with exclusive cuisines, drinks, and places to rest or leave your luggage between flights. Many lounges even have showers and quiet rooms to sleep or meditate.

This extra perk is great because it means you don’t have to buy any food or drinks between flights, and there is a place to stash your luggage if you want to explore!

Getting your first free business class flight

With the strategies shared, you should be able to earn at least one free international business class flight per year. If you really maximize the plan, you could even earn several flights.

Consider it an investment and way to leverage your funds. Instead of paying $2500+ for a business class flight, follow the 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free. With a little bit of time and this simple strategy you can earn the comfort and luxury you deserve.

You can sign up here to receive access to my entire resource library, including 3 Easy Steps to Travel in Business Class for Free, and start traveling more, for less.

Now all your travel wishes can come true.

Kimberly

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