How to Score a Business-Class Ticket Without Spending Your Own Money

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When a friend of mine told me that she paid around $4,000 for a business-class seat on her last flight, I almost dropped the glass of water I was holding out of shock. I couldn't believe she was willing to part with that much money for a better seat on a plane -- especially since it wasn't such a long flight (maybe seven hours at most, which isn't short, but still).

To be clear, it's not that I was caught off-guard by the cost of a business-class ticket. I'm well aware that these upgraded seats can cost thousands of dollars.

It's just that my friend is, well, sort of an average earner who owns an average home, drives an average car, and tends to do average stuff. So it surprised me that she was willing to spend that much money on a single flight, even though I understood the logic (it was international and she wanted to get as much sleep as she could).

The truth, though, is that while my friend used her own money to pay for business class, there are other ways to set yourself up with an upgraded seat without having to dip into your cash reserves. Here are a few options for snagging a business-class seat that aren't nearly as financially painful as having to raid your bank account.

1. Cash in your credit card points

Many credit cards offer rewards points that you can cash in for miles and use to cover the cost of a business-class flight. And you might accumulate those points fairly quickly if you employ the right strategy. That means finding a credit card with bonus points in spending categories that are valuable to you, and taking advantage of welcome offers that give you extra points or miles.

For example, you may find a travel rewards card that gives you 50,000 bonus points or miles for spending a certain amount of money within a few months of opening your card. If you make that card your primary one for a period, you might meet that spending requirement, thereby racking up extra points or miles that can eventually go toward a business-class upgrade.

2. Use your miles

Flying with the same airlines often can work to your benefit, since you could rack up air miles. Accumulate enough, and you may be able to use your miles for a business-class flight.

However, if you choose this route, plan ahead. You may have to book your flight way in advance to take advantage of this option. And you may also need to be prepared to be flexible with your travel dates.

Keep in mind that with this option, as well as the one above, your points or miles may not cover the cost of your flight 100%. You might still be on the hook for certain taxes or fees. But it's more than possible to at least use points or miles to cover the majority of your business-class ticket's cost.

3. Ask for an upgrade at the gate

It's not just people with elite status who are eligible to be upgraded to business class. If you're scheduled to fly economy and you notice that business-class seats are available on your flight, a simple chat with the gate agent could leave you flying in style.

Now, this isn't to say that you should lie or make up a story about why you deserve a business-class seat. For example, don't fake a leg injury if you don't have one -- that's just not cool. But you may be able to appeal to a gate agent by being your charming self.

One tactic that might work, if it's the truth, is to explain that you've never flown business class before due to the cost, and you'd simply love to know what it's like. Or, you can say that you're a really nervous flyer, and having more room to spread out might make your journey more tolerable.

Finally, don't hesitate to let the gate agent know if you're flying for a special occasion, such as a birthday, honeymoon, or to celebrate getting your master's degree. This tactic isn't guaranteed to work, but it's worth trying.

Paying for a business-class ticket could deal your finances a pretty big blow. Luckily, you have other options for flying in an upgraded seat that don't require you to empty your savings account in the process.

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