May 8, 2006
Q-up fly first class cheap
To fly first class without spending a fortune, you have to know about Q-up, Y-up, Z fares. Many Airlines have a ticket class that few people know about but that many people would want to take advantage of. This type of ticket is less expensive than a normal first class ticket (it is technically a coach or an economy class seat so business persons forced to fly economy can take advantage). According to one Wall Street Journal article:
Jim Whitehurst, chief operating officer at Delta, says airlines also use the fares to help their most loyal business travelers avoid roughing it in coach, where empty seats are scarce. Because these fares technically buy a coach-class seat, they allow travelers to maneuver around any corporate-travel department rules against first-class tickets.But we vacation travelers can go bargain hunting as well.
At FareCompare, for example, there is a note on the homepage: Due to the high demand for Y-Up Q-Up Information - A new tool/section will be online in a few days which will allow you to view all Y-Up Q-UP deals touching your favorite departure. In the mean time you can download the Airline How To Guide for Y-Up Q-Up (here's the web page) which explains how to book these deals on major airlines.
Using Expedia, I did a flight search departing JFK May 25 for Seattle and returning May 30. The cheapest seat on coach (non-stop) was 478.00, but 833.00 roundtrip flying first class and that was with a stopover. Non-stop fares seemed to be over 1,100 dollars. I couldn't find the "Additional Options" that the Wall Street Journal article told me to select.
If you can find "Additional Options", then "check the box to search for seats in business class or first class." The article also says that Expedia's Q-up fares can be seen by clicking on "Rules and Restrictions."
Posted by James Trotta at May 8, 2006 10:54 PM