Flying business class is a luxury most of us fantasize about from the time we book our tickets to the time we debark, hurting and exhausted, from the economy cabin. Perks like lounge access and lie-flat seats are tempting, but the cost of an upgrade is usually too hard to justify. It doesn’t always have to be. Not only can you look out for Z-class fares — business tickets sold at discounted rates — but a number of airlines also consistently offer strong prices on premium seats. If you want to fly up front on your next trip, these are the carriers worth booking.
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These Are the Most Affordable Airlines to Fly in Business Class This Summer
Aer Lingus
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Popular routes: Boston to Dublin from $2,000 round-trip, New York to Dublin from $2,300, Chicago to Dublin from $2,400.
Best seats: Book throne seats — 3K or 5K on the A330, 3A, 3K, 5A, or 5K on the A321LR — single window seats with no seatmate and a console on the aisle side for extra storage.
How to book with miles or points: East Coast to Dublin from 45,000 Alaska Atmos Rewards points one-way.
You don’t need the luck of the Irish to get good business class deals on Aer Lingus. The airline is an obvious choice for flights to Ireland, but it’s also great for flights between the US or Canada and continental Europe — Dublin’s mid-Atlantic position makes it one of the more efficient hubs for onward connections into the UK, Scandinavia, and beyond. Business class seats aren’t always cheap, but Aer Lingus regularly beats its competitors on transatlantic routes, making it a great airline to get you across the pond.
Flying Aer Lingus business class on long-haul routes means fully lie-flat seats on Airbus A330 and A321LR aircraft, with adjustable lumbar support, power outlets, and built-in massage functions. The cabin includes Irish-inspired meals and a selection of wines, spirits, and of course, a pint of Guinness.
Avianca
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Popular routes: Miami to Bogotá from $450 round-trip, New York to Bogotá from $770, Los Angeles to Lima from $990.
Best seats: Book the 787-8 over the A330 where available — the 1-2-1 lie-flat cabin is a significant step up from the A330’s angled configuration.
How to book with miles or points: Bookable through Avianca LifeMiles, transferable directly from American Express Membership Rewards and Bilt Rewards.
Avianca, Colombia’s flagship carrier, is a convenient way to travel in comfort between the US and Latin America. There’s no escaping it when searching for flights to Bogotá or Buenos Aires, which is a good thing considering it generally has great offers on both economy and business seats. I was recently upgraded on an Avianca flight from Montevideo to Lima, and the cushy cabin and premium meal plan nearly spoiled me for my connecting flights. While you may not have the same luck that I did, the service in general is great and you may snag a similar deal ahead of time.
As for the hardware, long-haul routes use Boeing 787-8 and Airbus A330 aircraft. On the 787-8, passengers get fully lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access from every seat. The A330 features a 2-2-2 angled-flat layout. Both cabins include power outlets, privacy dividers, and a dining experience that blends Latin American and international cuisine with a wide selection of wines and spirits.
British Airways
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Popular routes: New York to London from $3,000 round-trip, Boston to London from $2,700, Los Angeles to London from $3,600.
Best seats: Check the seat map before booking — a 1-2-1 layout means you have a Club Suite with a closing door; more seats per row means the older Club World configuration without one.
How to book with miles or points: Bookable on Avios — transferable from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One at 1:1.
Treating yourself to business class on British Airways is a great way to channel your favorite Downton Abbey aristocrat without breaking the bank. The airline is a great choice for transatlantic flights and makes getting from US hubs to European cities in the Club World cabin surprisingly doable. British Airways regularly holds sales — the “Original Sale” drops prices significantly on long-haul routes, so sign up for fare alerts and move fast when one lands in your inbox.
British Airways is not a budget airline, so snagging these fares is an accomplishment worthy of the pro traveler label. That’s particularly true given they include all standard Club World amenities: lie-flat seats, lounge access, priority boarding, gourmet dining, and a generous baggage allowance.
Condor
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Popular routes: New York to Frankfurt from $2,000 round-trip, Los Angeles to Frankfurt from $2,800.
Best seats: Prime Seats in row 1 are worth the upgrade on overnight flights — the open ottoman is large enough to function as a companion seat.
How to book with miles or points: Alaska Mileage Plan is the only miles redemption option, starting at 55,000 miles one-way plus taxes.
You’ve probably never considered flying Condor. The German leisure carrier isn’t trying to compete with Lufthansa on prestige — it’s competing on price and product, and on both counts it’s winning. Every transatlantic flight operates on a brand-new Airbus A330-900neo with a 1-2-1 lie-flat business class cabin, direct aisle access from every seat, and fares that regularly come in well under what legacy carriers charge for the same crossing. The catch? Every nonstop from the US lands in Frankfurt — but that’s less of a limitation than it sounds. Frankfurt is one of Europe’s busiest hub airports, with 88 airlines connecting onward to 283 destinations across 92 countries. Barcelona, Venice, Budapest, Zurich, Rome — all a short connection away, many on Condor’s own expanding European network.
Onboard, the business cabin is small. There are only 30 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, every one with direct aisle access and a fully lie-flat bed. Expect pretzels, local cheeses, and wines from Baden and the Mosel — German through and through. At Frankfurt, business class passengers access the Lufthansa Business Lounge, with a full bar, hot food, and shower suites — though lounge access at US departure airports depends on the city. Prime Seats in row 1 add an open ottoman, pajamas, and a 24-inch screen for an extra $200 to $360.
Icelandair
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Popular routes: New York or Boston from $1,100 round-trip, Chicago from $1,400, Seattle from $1,500.
Best seats: Rows 1 and 2 offer the most legroom — worth requesting at check-in.
How to book with miles or points: Bookable through Icelandair Saga Club points or via Alaska Atmos Rewards.
It’s almost worth flying business class to Reykjavik for the breakfast spread in Keflavik International Airport’s Saga Lounge alone. Though you’ll want to fly roundtrip to take advantage, that’s actually enticing — Saga Premium is the airline’s take on business class, and it’s uniquely Icelandic, down to the local music available in-flight, including Icelandic punk rock if you’re feeling rowdy. Little touches like hot towels and chilled Champagne make all the difference when you upgrade on Icelandair, especially if you’re traveling internationally. The carrier flies to most major European cities and has done a lot to market itself to North American travelers in recent years — it now serves around 18 US cities including Miami, Nashville, and Pittsburgh alongside longtime hubs like New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Seattle. The free Iceland stopover of up to seven days means you’re essentially getting two destinations for the price of one transatlantic ticket.
JetBlue
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Popular routes: New York to London from $1,500 round-trip, Boston to London from $2,300.
Best seats: Book a Mint Suite on A321neo or A321LR aircraft for a sliding door and full privacy.
How to book with miles or points: Bookable through JetBlue TrueBlue points, transferable from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards at 1:1.
JetBlue is like the Wild Turkey bourbon of airlines: cheaper than so-called top-shelf alternatives without sacrificing quality, promising something both affordable and smooth. Travelers with high standards and low budgets can opt to fly premium with JetBlue Mint, which has had coast-to-coast deals for under $500 in the past. You should also keep an eye on seasonal flights to the Caribbean from Boston or New York.
JetBlue Mint includes lie-flat seats and, on A321neo and A321LR aircraft, private suites with sliding doors. The airline serves its Mint customers tapas-style meals from Charlie Bird, Pasquale Jones, and PDT — all under New York’s Delicious Hospitality Group — along with ample snacks, Tuft & Needle sleep kits, and included Wi-Fi. JetBlue recently opened its BlueHouse lounge at JFK, with access for transatlantic Mint passengers. Mint consistently ranks at the top for business class customer satisfaction in North America. The drinks are on the house, so help yourself.
Turkish Airlines
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Popular routes: San Francisco to Istanbul from $2,500 round-trip, Miami to Istanbul from $2,200, New York to Istanbul from $2,500.
Best seats: Book a 787-9 or A350 for a 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access — if the seat map shows more than four seats per row in business class, look for a different date or aircraft.
How to book with miles or points: Bookable through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, or via United MileagePlus as a Star Alliance partner.
Turkish Airlines is known for its flying chefs and exceptional service, and the airline delivers this at grand scale by flying to more countries than any other airline, with over 300 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It makes getting to dream destinations like Budapest or Bangkok a whole lot easier and getting there in business class a lot more likely. Flying Turkish Airlines business class is an experience from check-in to baggage claim — you’ll check in at a separate counter, have access to either the Turkish Airlines business lounge or the business lounge of a partner airline (United Polaris, if you’re departing from the United States). Then there’s the lie-flat seats and boutique feel of the business cabin — it’s a great place to cozy up over a movie, get some work done, and enjoy a full night’s sleep on a long-haul flight. Turkish is rolling out Crystal Business Class across its 777 fleet and incoming A350-1000s — sliding privacy doors, 1-2-1 layout — but availability varies by aircraft, so check the seat map before booking. Get the date right and a round-trip in business can run near what others charge for economy — travelers have booked itineraries for as little as $2,200. 