Receiving an upgrade to business class ranks among the top perks for frequent flyers. Business class offers wider seats, improved legroom, complimentary drinks, premium food selections, and additional luxurious amenities such as lie-flat seats during international flights. If you plan your trip in advance and understand how airline booking systems work, your chances of getting a free upgrade to Business Class increase significantly – meaning the airline changes your Economy ticket to Business without any additional expense on your part.

Although different rules and criteria exist within each company, we offer you 9 of the most useful tips:

1. Join loyalty programs

Firstly, if you wish to have the option to travel in Business class instead of Economy (without paying for it), it’s essential to be a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program that you’re flying with. Therefore, if you’re flying with a company for which you don’t have the ‘points card,’ it’s necessary to enroll in the program. The process is usually very straightforward; all airlines allow you to do it for free and instantly on their website.

2. Take care of your program level

The higher your frequent flyer level, the greater the possibilities. In situations of overbooking, as often happens in the summer, airlines start upgrading passengers from Economy to Business class starting with the highest-level loyalty program members.

3. Enter your frequent flyer number on the ticket a few days before flying

It’s crucial not to wait until reaching the airport to specify your membership in the frequent flyer program. Instead, do it at the time of purchase, ideally at least 24 hours before the flight.

4. Check-In from home

If there’s overbooking, there’s a chance for an upgrade. How to be one of the lucky ones? In addition to following the previous tips, it’s important to do the check-in from home about 24 hours in advance, which is when airlines normally allow it.

Flight personnel often know in advance which flights will be full, and that’s why they start moving passengers from one class to another before takeoff. But if the traveler hasn’t checked in, they won’t have opportunities to be upgraded, as the airline can’t be certain they will fly.

Some companies offer upgrades during online check-in for reduced prices (between 75 and 150 euros, depending on the flight duration), which can also be a good option.

The origin of the myth lies in that distant cousin who managed to snag a flight for 1&. In that friend’s brother-in-law who showed up at the airport with suitcases and no idea of the destination, yet managed to secure a flight for that very morning at half price.

To add to the confusion, numerous websites claim to offer “last-minute flights,” unrepeatable deals that you must snatch up instantly before they disappear… We usually aren’t lucky, but we trust that if we stay vigilant, someday we will find that last-minute deal of the century. Because the universe is balanced, and karma makes everything fair, so that day will come sooner or later… or won’t it?”

The truth is, according to the way airlines set the prices of their flights, the last tickets for a flight not only aren’t cheaper but are more expensive.

This phenomenon, although contrary to popular belief, has been entrenched in airlines’ commercial strategies for decades, and to understand how it works, we must turn to the concept of Yield Management.

What is Yield Management?

Essentially, yield management involves varying ticket prices over time based on sales forecasts, with the aim of maximizing profit margins.

One of the most common practices is to adjust ticket prices in real-time according to demand. Given that each flight has a limited number of seats and airlines can freely set prices, it’s logical to think that they will strive to maximize profit by gauging the limit passengers are willing to pay at any given moment.

For example, if a flight is selling well, companies will tend to raise prices because, for some reason, there is great interest in that flight. This would explain, for instance, why tickets are more expensive during holiday periods (when more people want to travel) and, conversely, cheaper during the rest of the year.

But what happens when the departure date is near?

When the departure date of the flight is imminent, it doesn’t make sense to think their goal is to get rid of the last tickets, but rather to maximize profit from users who left the booking until the last moment and who are usually willing (or have no choice) to pay whatever is asked.

Are you looking to save some serious cash on your next flight? Well, buckle up because we have some insider tips to help you find the best deals in the sky. From booking ahead to staying flexible with your travel plans, we have compiled a comprehensive list of strategies to help you navigate the world of airfare pricing like a pro. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or gearing up for your first adventure, these fourteen pointers will arm you with the knowledge and savvy to find affordable flights without sacrificing on quality. So, if you are ready to take your travel game to the next level and make those savings soar, dive into our guide and share with friends!

1. Plan ahead: Take advantage of lower prices by booking your flights well in advance. Waiting until the last minute often leads to higher fares. Airlines tend to increase prices as the flight date nears, so securing your tickets early can help you avoid these price hikes.
   
2. Utilize alerts: Stay informed about potential deals and discounts by setting up alerts for flight prices. While prices generally tend to rise over time, airlines occasionally offer promotions or lower prices on certain routes. By receiving alerts, you can be notified when prices drop, allowing you to snag a deal when it’s available. You can easily create an alert on Trabber to receive an automatic notification.
   
3. Flexibility is key: Remain flexible with your travel plans, including dates, times, and even destinations if possible. Adjusting your travel dates by a day or two can sometimes result in significant savings. Trabber will notify you if it detects offers on upcoming dates (or at nearby airports) to those of your search.
4. Secondary airport consideration: Be mindful when comparing flights to secondary airports versus primary ones. While flights to secondary airports may initially appear cheaper, factor in any additional costs such as transportation to your final destination. Sometimes, the convenience of flying into a primary airport may outweigh the potential savings of flying into a secondary one.
5. Baggage fees awareness: Before booking your flight, carefully review the baggage fees for each airline. Some airlines charge additional fees for checked baggage, which can significantly impact the total cost of your trip. By understanding these fees upfront, you can budget accordingly and avoid any surprises at the airport.
6. Upfront baggage fee payment: Save money by paying baggage fees upfront during the booking process. Many airlines offer the option to add baggage to your booking at a discounted rate compared to paying for it at the airport. Taking advantage of this option can help you avoid higher fees at the airport counter.
7. Travel light: Consider traveling with only carry-on luggage to avoid additional fees for checked bags. Many airlines offer complimentary carry-on allowances, allowing you to pack efficiently and save on baggage fees. By minimizing your luggage, you can streamline your travel experience and potentially save money in the process.
8. Payment card surcharge awareness: Be aware of any surcharges associated with your chosen method of payment when booking flights. Some airlines and booking platforms may impose additional fees for certain payment methods, such as credit cards. By registering in Trabber and setting up your cards, prices on the results pages will include the total cost.
9. Comparison shopping: Take the time to compare prices between airline websites and online travel agencies. While booking directly with the airline is often preferred, it’s worth exploring other options to ensure you’re getting the best deal. By comparing prices across multiple platforms, you can find the most competitive fares for your desired itinerary.
10. Consider round-trip vs. one-way: Evaluate whether round-trip tickets or one-way fares offer the best value for your trip. In some cases, booking a round-trip ticket may be more cost-effective, especially if airlines offer discounts for booking both legs of the journey together. However, for more flexible travel plans, one-way fares may be preferable.
11. Split Ticketing Strategy: Explore the possibility of booking outbound and return flights separately to potentially save money. Sometimes, booking each leg of the journey individually can result in lower overall fares, especially if there are promotions or discounts available for one segment of the trip, as it happens on low cost airlines.
12. Skip unnecessary add-ons: Avoid unnecessary add-ons such as travel insurance during the booking process if they’re not essential for your trip.
13. Online check-in reminder: Don’t forget to check in online for Ryanair and other low cost airlines to avoid additional fees at the airport. Forgetting to check in before arriving at the airport can result in hefty fees, so be sure to complete this step ahead of time to save money.
14. Saturday night stay consideration: When planning longer trips, consider including a Saturday night stay at your destination to potentially access lower fares. Airlines often offer discounted fares for itineraries that include a Saturday night stay, so adjusting your travel dates accordingly can lead to significant savings.

We hope that this information is useful for planning your next trips.

We have just started a brand new year and we desire to achieve the purpose that leads our list of desires: Travelling. But, for a change, our budget is not as large as our eagerness to travel. Does the same happen to you?

If it is like that, we have good news. In Trabber we have carried out a study in which we reveal the best moment to book cheap flights and also to travel.

If we make use of the logic, we that the most expensive dates will be those that clash with vacation periods: Easter, Summer and Christmas. In other words, during the peak season. But the year is very long and it is full of good times to book flights at the best price. Do you like to know which ones they are?

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If two flight search engines came and said:

… according to your opinion, which one would be better?

The natural thing would be to think that the second one, right? Because “millions” gives a greater sense of completeness that “71“.

But what would you think if we told you that most agency websites already give access to millions of flights by themselves, or what is the same, that “We search in millions of websites” could actually be synonymous with ‘We search hin one web’?

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Contrary to popular belief, flying Business Class doesn’t have to be much more expensive than Economy Class. In fact, if you plan your trip in advance and know well how airlines’ policies work, there are odds that you get a free “upgrade” to Business, that is to say, that the airline changes your ticket from Tourist to Business without any additional expense on your part.

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