4 Common Mistakes When Booking Business Class Tickets

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There's a reason so many travelers prefer to fly business class rather than economy. In business class, you get a more comfortable seat, room to spread out, and food that actually resembles something you might want to put in your mouth.

But in the course of booking business class tickets, you might fall victim to a few big blunders. Here are four you should make every effort to avoid.

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1. Waiting until the last minute to make reservations

Flying business class could spell the difference between being comfortable and getting a decent night's sleep on a long flight vs. being miserable and suffering from major jet lag in the days that follow. But one thing you don't want to do is wait until the last minute to book your business class ticket.

Airlines only sell a limited number of business class tickets per flight. If you wait until you're only a few weeks out from flying, you may not have the option to book a business class seat, even if you're willing to pay for one.

Also, if you book business class in advance, you may be able to snag a deal in the process. If you wait until the last minute but insist on flying business class, you could end up overpaying in a really big way.

2. Not selecting a meal in advance

One major perk of flying business class is getting a gourmet meal, as opposed to the glorified slop your economy class counterparts are forced to endure (assuming that they're even eligible for a meal, which is generally only the case on international flights). But don't just decide to wing it and choose your business class meal on the spot.

Airlines only make a limited number of business class meals available. If you don't choose a meal in advance, you may not get what you want. And it's especially important to choose your meal ahead of time if you have special dietary considerations, such as needing vegetarian or gluten-free food.

3. Paying for your ticket in cash

The cost of a business class ticket can easily be three, four, or five times the cost of an economy seat -- or even more. But paying cash for that ticket isn't necessarily your only option. So before you do that, see if you have enough miles to redeem to cover the cost of your ticket.

If you recently signed up for a travel rewards credit card that came with a generous welcome offer, see if your sign-up bonus puts you at the threshold of being able to book business class by cashing in miles. Or, if there's an airline you've been flying with for a long time, see if you have enough miles to make that upgrade without having to shell out the money.

4. Spending so much on business class that it negatively impacts the rest of your trip

You may not have enough credit card points or miles to upgrade to business class without having to pay for the privilege. But if you do have to spend your own money, make sure it won't be to the detriment of the rest of your trip.

If you bust your travel budget on your flight, you may not get to enjoy the activities and meals you want to at your destination. And you may have to settle for a less convenient or comfortable hotel room.

Before you splurge on business class tickets, figure out how much you can afford to spend on your trip all-in. And make sure paying for a business class seat doesn't get in the way of being able to enjoy your travels on a whole.

Flying business class could be a great way to start off your next trip on the right foot. Just be sure to avoid these mistakes along the way.

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