flyer

Does anyone remember when the airlines announce their summer business class sales?

sparkchaser

Do they still do that?

Gardyloo

I don't know that there's a specific recurrent time, but I seem to recall most of the sales start appearing around the first of May or so. Of course not every airline has them and not for every route.

Where are you flying from and where to?

I'd recommend using the month-long search on ITA, starting now.

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

Bamaman

Don't expect to see any sales Summer, 2014. Airline analysts scour their reservation systems and make decisions to keep prices up and supply of seating up. They're good at their jobs.

The only Business Class deals you're going to see are going to be offered to an airline's frequent fliers prior to taking off--when there are empty seats up there.

DonTopaz

Any sales for summer business class seats are based on past history and expected sales. Unless 'Bamaman' has inside info, I can't imagine the basis for his claims.

Airlines have in the past offered summer business class sales, because there's a lot less corporate traffic, especially between the US and Europe, in July and August. However, in the past few years, many routes and airlines are also offering year-round business class discounts (often up to 40-60% of regular business class fares). The difference between the discount fares and the regular fares are that the discounted ones have advance purchase restrictions (as much as 90 days) as well as change/refund restrictions; the discounted seats are also limited.

flyer

Thanks. I'm flying NY to London and have already started checking ITA.

Last year, if I remember correctly, I picked up my ticket in April.

I'll give it a few more weeks and see what happens.

There's always Virgin PE.

lifestobelived

Do you really want cash fares for the miles and status?? Some good deals with frequent flyer programs...