The Hidden Downside of Always Flying First Class

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First class is a fun way to travel. You get a more comfortable seat, complimentary champagne, and often, airport lounge access. It definitely feels like you're living the high life.

The drawback that almost everybody knows about is the price tag. First-class seats can cost three times as much as economy seats, or even more. While that's the main barrier to flying first class, it's a problem that can be solved if you save up enough cash or travel points.

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But there's another downside that isn't discussed nearly as often. And it's a problem you'll probably run into if you want to be a frequent first-class flyer.

With fewer seats, flight booking gets more difficult

Airlines offer far more economy seats than first-class seats. Among the 50 largest full-service airlines, business class and first class account for just 9.5% of the seating, according to an analysis by Centre for Aviation. So if a plane has 160 seats, first class might have 16 of them.

Now, there's also less demand for first class, since it costs more. But if you plan to fly first class regularly, you'll be choosing from a much smaller number of seats. There are a few situations, in particular, where this can make life difficult:

• You're flying with your spouse and/or your children. First class usually isn't completely sold out. But it could be hard to find multiple open seats, especially if you want to sit together with your family.
• You're booking airfare with miles. Most airlines only make a limited number of first-class seats available to book with miles. These award seats tend to go fast, too -- after all, lots of people want to save money on first class by booking it with travel rewards.
• You're booking a last-minute trip. Availability tends to go down and prices go up for last-minute airfare (although there are sometimes still good deals). You may be out of luck if you want to sit in first class, or it will be prohibitively expensive.

I fly first class whenever I can, and these have all been challenges for me. Finding seating for two or more people together can be particularly tough on certain flights. Some business- and first-class cabins have an even mix of solo window seats and pairs of seats together in the middle of the plane. The seats that are next to each other can go fast.

How to get the first-class seats you want

I've found a few fairly reliable ways to book first class and get the seats I want. Here's what has worked for me:

• Be as flexible as possible about your travel dates. Sometimes one day will only have a single first-class seat left, while the next day has practically the whole cabin available. If you aren't locked into specific travel dates, it makes booking first-class airfare much easier.
• Start searching early (ideally, at least three months in advance). There will likely be more seats available if you don't wait until the last minute and you aren't under pressure to book airfare right away.
• Check your options with multiple airlines. Being loyal to an airline doesn't always pay off. Even if you have miles or status with one, it's worth comparing options to see if a better deal is available.

Another method that has helped me save on expensive airfare is using travel credit cards. If you'd like to do the same, look for credit cards that aren't tied to a specific airline. With an airline card, you can only use your miles with one airline.

For most travelers, it's better to get a card with transferable rewards. There are many travel cards that let you transfer points to a dozen or more airlines, which gives you far more booking options.

Flying in first class more often is a popular way to upgrade your travel experience. This isn't without its challenges. Paying for it is the hardest part, but seating can be scarce, too. It's all the more important to shop for flights early and try to maintain flexibility for when you fly. By doing that, you'll give yourself the best chance of finding a seat.

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