Flying first-class and business class is often seen as a luxury reserved for the rich and well-connected. The idea of lounging in a spacious seat with top-tier service, gourmet meals, and access to exclusive lounges can seem like a distant dream - and was for me, I traveled back and forth across the world many, many times before I ever got to experience the joy of a lay-flat seat. But here’s the truth: traveling business and first class doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be completely inaccessible. With the right approach, savvy planning, some flexibility in travel plans, and being smart about where and how you spend your money outside of travel, you can fly Premium class without emptying your bank account.

In 2025, similar to what always appears like every year, earning and redeeming loyalty points becomes more challenging, as airlines constantly tweak their programs which often keep premium travel less accessible for the average traveler. This year sees updates that make it harder to score those coveted first-class and business-class seats without spending a fortune, but there are always strategies and deals to be had. Here’s your ultimate guide to flying for cheap - whether it’s through points, upgrades, or tracking down the best deals.

1. The Easiest Way to Get First-Class & Business Class: Airline Status

If you know anyone that travels regularly for business or otherwise, you know that frequent flyers live and die by sticking to their airline. If you’re serious about flying first-class or business class without paying full price, loyalty points and elite status are your best friends. Beyond the coveted upgrades, earning airline status is crucial to making the airport and flying process much more palatable with perks that make a huge difference. In what always feels like a race to the bottom, it feels more important than ever to stick with one carrier to achieve even the lowest elite status. But achieving that coveted status isn’t as easy as it once was.

Why Status Matters

Elite status isn’t just about earning points – it’s about getting preferential treatment when it comes to upgrades, priority boarding, and access to first-class and business-class seats. To get status, you need to accumulate a certain amount of miles or segments, and that usually takes consistent flying with the same airline or alliance - and this process and how much it takes to achieve changes almost every year. But once you have it, those perks can make a massive difference, especially when it comes to earning upgrades.

Airlines have designed their frequent flyer programs to reward loyalty. They want you to fly exclusively with them, so they incentivize you with status upgrades that come with perks like:

• Priority Check-In: Elite members can skip long lines, making the airport experience far less stressful - especially in vacation destinations that have a lot more families and a lot less frequent travelers, this has saved us hours and has sometimes been the only reason we've actually made a flight.
• Complimentary Upgrades: Especially to domestic first class, or at least to Premium Economy seats with more legroom, free drinks and snacks, and sitting at the front of the economy section -  if there are available seats.
• Access to Lounges: Even if you’re not flying first-class, you’ll be able to relax in a luxurious lounge before your flight. While many lounges within the US are pretty basic, some of the international ones are absolutely incredible. 
• Bonus Miles: You’ll often earn more miles for each flight based on your status tier, so you’re building points faster the higher your status.

The Three Major Airline Alliances

The key to maximizing your status is understanding the three major airline alliances – the Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. These alliances group airlines together, allowing you to earn and redeem miles across different airlines within the same network. So even if you’re flying with a different carrier, your miles can count towards the same rewards program.

1. OneWorld - American Airlines
   I have kept my elite status (continually varying from the lowest to the highest levels) On American Airlines and thus OneWorld for the past 10 years, so I know this network extremely well. The OneWorld alliance covers most of the world, with major partners being British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar, Qantas, and the recently added Alaska Airlines, as well as a number of smaller more niche airlines like Royal Jordanian, and Fiji Airways. American status is recognized across all OneWorld airlines in comparable levels - and we have found from our home. base of LAX, we can get almost everywhere in the world with only one layover, a huge advantage when booking international flights. OneWorld also offers a special benefit called the Oneworld Global Support, which allows you to receive priority service and access to premium seating on partner airlines even when traveling internationally. American Airlines’ AAdvantage program is one of the strongest loyalty programs within OneWorld. If you have any specific questions - this is the alliance I can answer everything about, as i have studied the ins and outs and how to maximize them for the past decade.
2. SkyTeam - Delta
   SkyTeam includes airlines like Delta, Air France, Korean Air, and Alitalia. Though it’s smaller than Star Alliance and Oneworld, SkyTeam is still a significant player in the global travel scene - and among domestic flights, Delta status holders seem to receive the most benefits. One of the benefits of flying with a SkyTeam airline is the ability to earn and redeem miles across 19 member airlines. SkyTeam also offers a program called SkyPriority, which ensures priority check-in, security, and boarding for members, plus additional baggage benefits and access to lounges across their network.
3. Star Alliance - United
   The largest global alliance, Star Alliance includes airlines like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, and ANA and Elite status with a Star Alliance airline gives you access to all 26 member airlines, and you can use those miles to book flights across the globe and earn points across all of the alliance airlines - however within the US, United seems to be everyone's least favorite airline. 

The Strategy for Status

Commit to one major alliance and stay loyal to that network. By doing so, you’ll be able to maximize your points and status across multiple airlines, allowing you to earn elite status faster. At the bare minimum, if you’re not already signed up for a loyalty program, now’s the time. The earlier you start building points, the sooner you’ll see the rewards. 

But there’s a catch: it’s not just about accumulating miles, hitting a high level of status with just flying is difficult in 2025. The number of miles needed to reach elite status across all airlines has increased in recent years, making it harder for the average traveler to hit those high thresholds - unless you are traveling for work constantly or regularly booking business class flights, it is not easy to get there. For most airlines, the days of just miles are gone, and there are new criteria – like the number of paid flights or dollars spent – to determine who gets upgraded to elite status.

You have to be somewhat creative to earn miles and status - one of the easiest and best ways you can multiply and maximize your status earning points by signing up for and using your chosen airline's premium credit card.

Other ways to earn status:

• Bonus miles for shopping: Many airlines have partnered with retail brands to help you earn miles by making everyday purchases, whether it's at your local grocery store or online shopping.
• Increased rewards for specific spending: Credit card partners like Chase and American Express offer even more ways to accumulate points through dining, travel expenses, and subscription services.
• Bonus mile promotions and challenges: During certain times of the years, airlines offer specials where you can get extra miles and loyalty points for flying during what are usually slower times. 
• Some Airlines even have perks and discounts for things like airport parking

2. Earn Points and Status with Online Shopping

One of the ways I consistently keep up my American Airlines status is through Aadvantage eShopping. 

How Does AAdvantage Shopping Work?
eShopping is an online shopping portal and a browser extension when you earn a certain amount of miles per dollar spent on a thousand+ websites when you click through their links, maximizing the money you're already spending. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Log into your AAdvantage account and browse the AAdvantage Shopping portal.
2. Shop through the links provided, ensuring your purchase qualifies for loyalty points.
3. Earn loyalty points based on the amount you spend. Certain retailers may offer bonus points or double/triple points during promotions, which is what I always watch for. These bonus offers often only last a single day, so it is important to watch out for them to make this strategy work.  

I set up email alerts for most of the websites I am likely to shop at, and try to time my purchases with when there are bonus points throughout the year. For example, I always buy the same Adidas running shoes once or twice a year because they work well with an old foot injury I have. Adidas regularly has 10 miles per dollar days, so when I need a new pair, I wait until one of these days to purchase. This way, the $180 shoes I would already be buying also become 1800 loyalty points and 1800 miles to use for upgrades and free flights.

I plan ahead as much as possible on large purchases to earn these bonuses as well - when we bought our house and needed to buy expensive appliances, I used Aadvantage shopping to get thousands of extra miles. 

Sign up for Aadvantage eShopping here.

3. Maximize Credit Cards to Earn Airline Points - The Art of Churning 

If you aren't flying frequently enough to make status worthwhile, the most value and points you can earn is often through premium credit cards - getting into this method is often a right of passage for a new traveler and everyone that deeply loves a deal. Churning is the practice of signing up for credit cards that offer large signup bonuses in the form of miles, points, or straight cash back for the purpose of obtaining the bonus before cancelling the card. In a broader sense, churning can refer to simply maximizing credit card and travel rewards. 

Churning credit cards in my mid-twenties was what got me into travel initially and launched this entire life trajectory - all of our first trips before taking off full-time were purchased with credit card miles, and this method ended up opening the world for me and making it possible for me to travel internationally multiple times a year while living in New York on a media salary before taking off on our own. 

The true key here is to be honest about how much you can spend and staying on top of your spending to not end up in credit card debt. Most card bonuses have a spend minimum to get the bonus (for example: spend $5000 in the first 3 months to get 50,000 bonus points.) If this is within your normal amount of spending, amazing! If not, time new credit card sign ups with times where you will be spending more than normal - making a large purchase, moving, a large vacation, etc. I even opened a new credit card when I had a large hospital bill to pay and got flights to Thailand out of it! And then to cancel the card within the year, to not have to pay the annual fees. 

The Crème de la crème travel Credit cards are Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum - these cards have high annual fees but many extra perks that typically more than offset the fee. Most people will keep one of these, and/or a credit card for their status airline, and then churn through more niche cards as needed.

4. Credit Card, Airline and Hotel Point Transfers and Transfer Bonuses

Most credit cards have a way to book flights and hotels directly with your points through their websites.

Don't do this. 

(with one notable exception)

The real value almost always comes through transferring your credit card points directly to airlines or major hotel brands and booking through their own points programs, most often at a 1:1 transfer ratio - your money almost always goes farther through their own programs. 

But what you really want to look out for: Bonus transfer promotions. These limited-time offers can boost your points by 25% or more when you transfer them into your airline account. Here’s the breakdown: If you transfer 50,000 points, you could end up with an additional 12,500 miles - making all of those points go even farther on booking a flight, an upgrade, or a hotel stay.  These bonus transfers significantly accelerate your mileage earning potential making it easier to enjoy fancy travel on a budget.

While booking flights with credit card points is by far the most popular way to use them, if you are focused on your airline status, I find that it is more useful to use points on hotels and pay for flights - making the total amount spent usually the same, but while increasing my airline status, since that matters so much more to me. 

Keep an eye out for these bonus transfer windows. They often coincide with high-demand travel periods or airline-specific promotions, and taking advantage of these special events pump up your points balance in a short amount of time.

Notable Exception: Booking hotels with Amex points through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts gives you a long list of perks that make it more worthwhile than transferring to a partner - you can also book many independent and boutique hotels this way through their very incredibly curated collection. The VIP benefits include: room upgrades when available, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 12:00PM check-in and 4:00PM check-out times, and usually a $100 hotel credit. We've found the guaranteed early check in times to be invaluable when traveling to Europe, and sometimes the room upgrade is incredible. On our honeymoon in Amalfi, we booked the lowest category room at an expensive hotel with our Amex points and arrived to "a small upgrade" available. And this was that room...

5. Airline Alliances: Maximize Points by Booking One Airline Through Another

When you get down to the details - airline alliances are a key way to maximize your points and open up a world of options when it comes to booking flights. In 2025, the flexibility of these alliances makes it easier to leverage your points across multiple carriers to book flights in business or first class without sticking to a single airline. The biggest advantage? You can transfer points to one airline and book on another, sometimes at a better rate or with added bonuses.

Here’s a great example: I had some unused Citi points from an old credit card and from the available partners, Cathay Pacific looked to have the best upgrade program. However, Qatar Airways was offering a 25% bonus transfer promotion - thanks to them both being in the Oneworld alliance, I can then either book a flight on Cathay (Or British or American or....) directly through Qatar, or transfer the points over to Cathay's points system to use for upgrades. 

What does this mean for you? It gives you the chance to take advantage of promotion bonuses and book flights with partners that may have better availability or more desirable routes, allowing you to be more flexible with how you use your points and where you book your flights. So next time you’re thinking about transferring points, take a minute to check all the airlines in the same alliance. You might find a better way to use your points and get more out of your miles!

6. Booking with Points – Look at Different Destinations for Better Deals

When booking award flights with points, flexibility is your best friend, one of the smartest ways to find super-saver deals and get more value from your miles is to look at different destinations or book to smaller cities. A little planning and searching around different options can lead to major savings and the ability to book more with your points 

For example: Last summer, I booked a business-class flight from LAX to Albania connecting in London for the lowest possible points (57,000)  through American Airlines. If you looked at the exact same flight for the initial LA to London leg, that flight alone was more than 200,000 points. 

Why does this happen? Sometimes, connecting flights can offer better value when it comes to point redemption. Booking a flight to a smaller or less popular city can often be cheaper in points, even if the journey includes a stop in a major hub. Airlines tend to charge fewer miles for flights to secondary cities, or they may offer lower point requirements for multi-leg journeys. For example, if you’re flying to a popular European city, consider routing through a less-visited destination like Albania, Poland, or Croatia  and then booking inter-European flights or trains separately, which are often available on low cost carriers. 

When looking for award flights, play around with dates and destinations for a while and you are likely to find a better deal!

7. First-Class & Business Class for Less: Timing and Booking Strategies

In 2025, timing still reigns supreme when it comes to booking flights. However, airlines have made new adjustments to pricing that can benefit the savvy traveler: dynamic pricing algorithms now adjust fares more frequently based on booking trends, seat availability, and even weather conditions.

Here’s how you can take advantage of this:

• Book early for cheaper seats: While last-minute deals can sometimes be tempting, early booking is still one of the most reliable ways to score a cheaper first or business-class ticket. Airlines now open up premium seats early to loyal customers, often releasing seats at lower prices before they fill up.
• Try booking on Tuesday and Wednesday: Recent reports indicate that booking flights on Tuesday afternoons, especially for international routes, can save you hundreds on first-class and business-class seats. Airlines release inventory updates at this time, offering better fares on premium tickets.
• Fly during off-peak seasons: First-class and business-class tickets might be expensive during holiday periods, but airlines are now offering more flexibility around non-peak times. For instance, booking a late winter or early spring trip can score you significant savings.
  
  

8. The Secret to First-Class & Business Class Upgrades - They’re Never Just Given Out

Upgrades to first-class or business class aren’t handed out freely, no matter how often people repeat that you can just "dress nicely and ask for an upgrade ". Airlines have strict systems that can't offer complimentary upgrades on a whim. In my hundreds and hundreds of flights, the only time I have ever been given a free non-status upgrade was on an empty Cathay Pacific inter-Asia flight that was delayed on a tarmac for hours. I was sitting in premium economy with only a couple other passengers, and they let us all move up to an empty business class cabin, but even that had to be done very discreetly. Upgrades are almost always reserved for a select group of passengers: status holders and those willing to pay for upgrades.

The process is largely dependent on loyalty status or purchasing an upgrade. Here’s what you need to understand:

• Loyalty Status: Passengers with elite status in frequent flyer programs are the ones most likely to secure upgrades. Airlines prioritize these travelers because they are high-value customers who frequently fly with the airline - and there is a very organized system on when you qualify for free upgrades (with American Airlines it's on North American flights only), and in which order to passengers they are given out. 
• Paid Upgrades: For those without elite status, the next option is paying for an upgrade. Airlines sometimes offer discounted upgrade offers to people who have already purchased an economy or business class seat, and these offers can be a solid deal if you want the luxury of a premium cabin without paying full price. Every airline has a slightly different system for this, including some where you "bid" on an upgraded seat. Check out your airline to get all of the nitty gritty details. 
• Limited Availability: Upgrades are not given out unless there’s available inventory. First-class and business-class seats are often sold out well in advance, especially for seasonal and popular routes - if every seat is booked, there's no chance one can be yours. 

If you're hoping for an upgrade, you’re better off planning ahead rather than expecting a free pass. Here's how you can improve your chances:

• Travel during low-demand times: Flying mid-week, off-season, or at non-peak hours increases the likelihood of getting an upgrade, but it’s never a guarantee. I usually like to book a 6:00AM flight when it is available - getting up at 3AM always sucks, but they typically are the least crowded, with the most upgrade availability, and are the least likely to be delayed since most domino delays work themselves out overnight. 
• Check in early: Checking in early may improve your chances of snagging a paid upgrade if there’s availability. But don’t expect it to be handed to you just because you arrived early.

Upgrades are earned—either through loyalty or by paying to enhance your travel experience. If you’re serious about sitting in a premium seat, focus on accruing miles, using points, or purchasing the upgrade outright.

9. Last-Minute Deals: Still a Viable Strategy in 2025

It’s not just about flying under the radar; it’s about being strategic. Last-minute deals still work, both for booking award flights with miles and flight prices, especially for those willing to be flexible with their travel plans. In fact, 44% of leisure travelers still book last-minute flights, and they often find incredible deals. Airlines frequently offer discounts on premium seats, but you need to stay vigilant.

To get the best last-minute deal:

• Use mobile apps like Skyscanner and HotelTonight: These apps now offer alerts for last-minute first-class and business-class deals, ensuring you're always in the loop when an upgrade or discount becomes available. However, if you book through a third party you are the most likely to be bumped in case of an overbooking, as airlines give priority to directly booked flights. 
• Be flexible with your departure  and arrival cities: Look beyond your closest airport. Often, flying out of a major hub like New York or Chicago can get you a great first-class or business-class deal that was previously unavailable from your home city. If you are looking at a multi-destination trip, try different combinations of in and out to see if there are better deals. 
• Check for cancellations: If you’re willing to take a later flight, cancellations can mean empty seats. Call the airline directly to inquire about possible upgrades.

10. Be Strategic with Your Travel Dates

2025 has brought more flexibility in how airlines price flights, especially during non-peak seasons. For example, weekends tend to be pricier for first-class and business-class tickets, but by booking on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you can score major savings. Being open to flexible travel dates can mean substantial discounts on premium seats.

Airlines adjust their pricing models dynamically, so knowing when to book can make a huge difference in cost. Adjusting your flight dates by just one day could save you hundreds in some cases.

Flying first and business class for cheap in 2025 takes strategy and flexibility, but it's still highly possible. If you maximize how you spend your money, your credit cards, and how you search for award flights, you’ll be sipping champagne at 35,000 feet before you know it.