First class for less than the price of economy

Yes, indeed, the rich are different, and not, Mr Hemingway, this is not just that they have more money. Some rich people really know how to spend. I think of those who travel with great pomp.

Unfortunately, there are fewer these days luxury travel options (or if it seems at first sight). The liners are mostly a thing of the past, and original Orient Express, founded in 1883, irritated - on his last European runway in 2009.

However, complacent travel still exists, and not all are costs an arm and a leg (although that are preparing to pay many branches for opulent options). But there is a surprise: one place, you will find not necessarily a lot of "rich people" is in the first and the seats in class Affairs on many airlines.

For travel ideas and more new see blog of Rick at farecompare.com

We took a look at "ticket of 10 per cent sample the Bureau of Transportation Statistics" to see how many people actually fly in first class national tariffs and pay a high price. We discovered that most of those which transmits the cabin seats are filled by miles "promotion."

It is difficult to obtain an exact number, but it is also quite clear that those who pay the regular astronomical price of first class are a distinct minority.

And the prices are astronomical.

A recent audit of roundtrip flights on the United States in Los Angeles to New York JFK in mid-May showed the economy seats sell for $360, while first class seats going for $6,502.

In other words, you could buy 18 seats coach for the price of a seat in the face of the aircraft and still have enough money left over to load on several cans of Pringles. No wonder that hardly anyone pay full freight for the first.

It is a luxury option: use your miles and to join the not-exactly-rich-goal-luxury-loving-crowd.

I have other ideas, too.

1 Locate the cab deals before

Less than two weeks ago we stumbled across an incredible deal of Delta. the company offered what they called class flights "first/business" of Boston to Amsterdam (and other pairs of cities U.S./European) for less than the price of the economy. How is it? I am not really. This was not a sale announced, and it might have been an error.

If you wish to find such markets for yourself, you could sit across from your computer for hours, day after day, hoping to glom on the similar vagaries of the airline award, but a much easier way is to let technology do the work for you.

Register for alerts of ticket on a site of your choice (Yes, FareCompare has these alerts) so that you receive a notification in real time of these bargains.

A Word to the wise: these agreements do not last long.

2 Get-what-you-Pay-for the first class

All classes of first step are created equal.

You want to take a shower on board your aircraft? You want to fly Emirates.

You want to discuss with a friend or colleague? He or she can sit on the mini-sofa in your suite of first class on Cathay Pacific.

Want to slip into the Givenchy Pajamas before turning on the bed flat life-size with a pillow of regular size? Try to Singapore airlines.

These perks, of course, are what most of us would consider staggering amounts of money, but it certain that sounds good, it is not?

3 Try a Fraction of luxury

Are Legit Big discounts on the seats in class Affairs?

"In-class business - up to 75% off!

Of course, this offer is tempting for those seeking to flee the cramped seats and non-service you get on most long-haul flights overseas. But these claims are just a racoleuses or for real?

Has asked a player who has recently fallen on a claim like this:

"I saw a website offering rebates on the class big business, but it looks like a sort of travel coupon broker who buys miles unused frequent flyer, then a certain way sells tickets in price of class business to customers." I've never heard of this agency, and this seems suspicious to me. Is it OK or not?

In short, the answer to this drive is, "It is suspicious."

The site displays the signs of a broker of coupon: a notice of "we buy miles." But not all organizations who claim big business class discounts are suspicious. Instead, probably most of them is the basis ticket sales points. If you are interested in cheap business and first class travel - or even in economy, you need to know the difference.

What, precisely, is a "broker coupon." Basically, this is an organization that buys and sells travel loyalty awards. And the market prices and schedules of mileage Awards, almost all of the action of coupon is intercontinental travel business or first class.

Contrary to some reports I have seen, brokers coupon not to buy and sell and loyalty credit Miles. Nobody can do that without paying the transfer fee which often cost more than the credit is a value. Instead, a coupon broker buys and sells awards flyer in a three step process:

A person interested in the sale of excess miles contacts a broker, specifies the amount of credit available for sale and negotiates a price. In General, vendors receive 1 to 1? cents per mile, depending on the number of miles involved and the airline. The seller then expected the broker to find a market for some or all available miles. A person looking for a travel contacts not expensive a broker for a specific price, the Broker provides a price, and they strike an agreement. In General, buyers pay 2 to 3 cents per mile for credit required for the price. Once a deal is agreed, the broker pays the seller and request the seller to have issued on behalf of the purchaser price. Sometimes, the buyer made reservations. Sometimes the seller or broker does. In any event, the buyer moves under its own name.

Almost every writer of legitimate travel I know warns that travelling on brokered awards is "risky". All major airlines prohibit expressly "sale, barter or trade" their price loyalty.

Over the years, airlines have been able to close a batch of coupon brokers, apparently using fraud laws. Other hampered the process by limiting transfer pricing for members of the family and perhaps requiring that mileage holder and the person of flight appear at an airport set counter. Despite the opposition of the concerted air company, a few hardy brokers seem to remain in business.

Usually not a good idea

Overall, I recommend against the purchase of a price per broker, for three compelling reasons:

Airlines apply rules anti-broker, at least from time to time and if you are caught with a purchase price, the airline may cancel your reservation, cancel your award, require you to purchase a replacement ticket at the full rateconfiscate your own frequent flyer miles, or a combination of people.