How to Book Cheap BUSINESS CLASS TICKETS without Points! Retirement Travel School

[@RetirementTravelers]

If you have reached that stage of life or have medical conditions of concern, maybe be cramped in a seat for 10+ hours isn't what you are looking for in travel. We love looking for a bargain, but also want to travel in comfort and be safe. In today's video, we share some secrets on how we have found some relatively inexpensive business class tickets to Europe and Asia. Best of luck with your search! Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@MikeBrown-dk7or]

A big thank you. On a long haul economy flight, I often spend a lot of time standing or walking in the plane because it is so uncomfortable to sit for so long. I'm only able to sleep if I am completely exhausted.

[@jkrue1812]

Fare drop is having a 50% off sale. I think it ends today. Here's what I love about fare drop. 1) you can put up to 10 departure airports to monitor 2) you put various regions in the world to travel to (making it super easy to watch multiple airports) 3) you can specify business or economy (or both) and it returns the options in separate results groups so they are easy to differentiate

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@jkrue1812 Thanks so much. Some great information.

[@petersmith2040]

Emirates Business and First Class tickets are cheaper when originating from SE Asia/Indian Subcontinent like Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, KL, New Delhi, Bombay, etc… going to Europe/North America with a layover in Dubai. Just avoid originating from cities like HK, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka, etc… where there are a lot of wealthy and business travelers willing to pay high prices for their tickets. The higher the costs of living in a particular city, the higher the ticket prices.

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@petersmith2040 Thanks. Great tips! John and Bev

[@HeidiandEric0612]

Great video. My wife and I appreciate the effort you two are putting into the Travel School series! We also are addicted to business class for long haul flights to Europe. We are British Air Visa koolaid drinkers so we try and stick with them. Later this year we are traveling from Seattle to Edinburgh via London and returning from Madrid to Phoenix via London (we live in Tucson) three months later. I used points to get to Seattle from Tucson. We built our itinerary around those locations. Using some of your tips (and patience on the part of my wife), she found R/T business class on BA for a little over $5K for both of us. As you pointed out. Be patient and book early. We did. Thanks again for the videos. As we near retirement later this year, we are learning from travelers like you guys.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We are glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Congrats on your upcoming retirement and safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tmlau23]

Business class is truly addicting, it becomes very difficult to go back to Econ. Great videos! Safe travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We agree! There are bargains to be had if you are patient. We only need it a couple times a year, so might as well travel in comfort. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@HotelSnob]

Not as addictive as luxury hotels!! After all, cheap flights on the way to 5 star bedding are doable 😊

[@dc6924]

You can often book VERY cheap first class flights out of North Africa (Egypt) to Australia. A $20,000 first class flight on Qatar or Emirates can be $1800

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestion. We will definitely check that out. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@HGills]

this I definately have to check out - I find us Aussies get totally ripped when it comes to travel overseas not only is the aussie dollar conversion shite, the distances are just so far and limited competition - which airlines have you found between Aus and Nth Africa :)

[@Markus22MUC]

@@RetirementTravelers Great Video and thanks for sharing your experiences. From what I´ve learned while booking flights for my clients in the past, there are some "Hot Spots" you want to have a constant eye on. Kuala Lumpur and Manila for First/Business Class Tickets is always worth watching, cause they have deals below 2k sometimes. If you are planning a journey around the world, you might wanna check Japan and South Africa for First Class Fares. They start at 7k for Round the World Tickets. As dc6924 already mentioned, North Africa, like Cairo, Beyrut and Tripolis are also great to have an eye on for Asia/Australia flights. Also, what you might wanna do is combine your outward journey with your return journey. So let´s say you have a return flight from the US to Kuala Lumpur, you use that as your gateway to Asia and start your new ticket there. I know, it all sounds complicated, but if you are interested you might wanna check out a site like Flyertalk.com for other deals that might be of interest to you. Cheers and Happy Landings

[@JayandTanyaTravel]

I can't believe it (actually I can). Your videos just keep getting better and better. Like you two, any flight longer than 3-4 hours we try to go premium economy. And, if we can, any flights longer than 7-8 hours we at least investigate business class. Your tips on booking business class from outside US locations are great. Thank you so much. Jay & Tanya

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, thanks! So glad you are enjoying our channel and website. We just want to help people travel better and cheaper. Happy trails and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jonnyboi068]

@@RetirementTravelers How do you prevent blood clots while traveling.. any suggestions?

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@jonnyboi068 Working on a video on this topic. Thanks

[@conservativetaxpayer]

Correct. Business class is highly addicting We learned that klm offers an auction for their flights. After we purchased an economy flight, we placed a bid (we went low) and actually won the upgrade -space available but for 400 bucks extra we came back from Greece BC and it was heaven!

[@RetirementTravelers]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing. So glad you got the upgrade and had a wonderful experience. Hope you are enjoying our channel and website. Safe travels and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lydiabolen7853]

Thank you so much! 2 things I hadn't really considered before are planning the trip around the ticket bargain and leaving for the longest leg of the trip from outside the US. John, glad you survived the close call with the clot!❤ I feel like I'm in the inaugural class of y'all's Travel School. Thanks again!

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are welcome. Thanks for following along and glad you found this helpful. Happy trails and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@evag5041]

Thank goodness you went to the ER, John! It literally saved your life. I wish you both safe and healthy traveling. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge here. Always jam packed with great info and exactly what I need. Just getting my Global Entry so I’m just beginning lol.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much and glad it worked out. It was certainly the scare of our lives. Good luck with your planning process and let us know if we can help in any way. Happy trails and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@merridybenton7028]

As my daughter is at uni in the usa, we try to use points to get premium economy tickets and the best chance is from Sydney to LAX as that route uses a A380 plane and therefore theres more seats available then trying to go from sydney to DFW which is a smaller (less seats) plane.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Another great suggestion. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@VisitorsWelcome]

Good advice. I've saved thousands on business class by driving from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada. I recommend arriving the evening before your flight and staying at a hotel to avoid missing the flight due to traffic or border delays.

[@RetirementTravelers]

That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing. Vancouver seems to be a good option on several different airlines. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@larryowens7023]

We've used that strategy several times over the years and saved BIGTIME! However, when we flew to Japan last November, unlike exactly 1 year prior where we saved $800 per ticket, there was virtually NO difference in price from SEA to Tokyo(either airport) or YVR. We were stunned....and quite disappointed. Same month of the year we've travelled there for the last 5 trips and not lower from Vancouver! WT? We'll see how it goes in 24'.

[@chriswilliams6568]

Funny as many Vancouverites do the reverse.

[@FoodiesVacations]

Going to Europe?

[@gumerzambrano]

I booked my roundtrip flight to Japan from LA with ZipAir for $620! Even though it's s "budget" airline the seats were comfy enough. Will definitely fly with them again

[@RetirementTravelers]

We've heard about ZipAir from several people. Thanks for sharing. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@kenlewis2253]

They have a lie flat product that is a mix of business class comfort and Spirit service.

[@gregh7457]

You could also find a one way cruise to your overseas destination. sometimes they're cheaper than a business class flight and you're not prisoner in your seat. Also, take advantage of weak currencies by booking on a foreign carriers website in their currency but pay in a usa credit card

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestions. Thanks for sharing. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@travelman677]

Great information as always. Going to Colombia as a starting point for Australia is pure genius!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much and glad you found it helpful. Happy trails and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@CatherineGates-p5r]

Another great video-enjoy them all! We are flying from Aukland, New Zealand on Air Canada via Vancouver to Denver. Their business class was 1/3 the price of United to LAX to Denver in Premium Economy! United's business class was 5-6 times the price!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences and successes. Much appreciated. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lynnpugsley7109]

We travelled twice to Europe Last fall with TAP Portugal. The first one was from Toronto to Madeira island with a 10 day layover in Portugal (they let you do this on most flights for free ) and thought we had a great deal at 1800. I went on their website two weeks later and they had a better deal it was 1600 return. Needless to say we booked another trip to Portugal, and other parts of Europe. Yes they were business class seats. Thanks for the awesome tips. Sometimes air lingus will also have 1800 dollar business class tickets too. Keep on traveling

[@RetirementTravelers]

Those are some great tips. Thanks so much for sharing. We really appreciate this and will investigate these for our next Europe travels. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lynnpugsley7109]

@@RetirementTravelers you are most welcome. Awesome job on the website and I’ve signed up for your emails :)

[@julieluffman3794]

Great info.Thanks

[@anivee5863]

Turkish Air flies direct Panama to Istanbul 15 hours. We paid under $3500 round trip for fabulous food, service, flat seats, spent a few days in wonderful Istanbul and then flew short flights back to Eastern Europe.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. That is an awesome tip. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@leapintothewild]

THANK YOU! ❤ I flew for work extensively for a few years in the late 90s with three huge suitcases (only half of one had my personal items), so I got burned out on the whole thing! 😂 At 5’4” I was okay with economy back then, but hear space is even tighter now and my claustrophobia is getting worse. If we want to get across an ocean and can’t make cruise timing work, it’s so helpful to know these tips!! ❤

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing and glad you found this video helpful. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Genx1967er]

Thank you for the great pointers. My wife and I are planning on slow traveling the world starting with Europe when we retire in 5 years. I am so excited, I am prepping now.

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are welcome. We hope our channel and website will be good prep work for your travels. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Anonymous-One1]

These are great tips. Thanks for sharing what you have found. While they don't have lie-flat seats, Icelandair has flights to several places in Europe from the US with the option of a multi-day layover in Iceland at no additional cost. Safe travels! --M

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow. That is is great tip. Thanks so much. We still haven't been to Iceland and have it in our planning stage. We really appreciated the info and sure our viewers will as well. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ElwoodPDowd-ed7pc]

Yep … this works, patience, time and flexibility are key. It’s worth the effort for ALL the possible perks! Thanks for sharing!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Absolutely! Thanks for following along with us. Hope you find some great bargains. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@onecasual1]

If you ever get the opportunity to book Qatar Q Suites, DO IT!! I was able to snag a Q Suite from LAX to Nairobi (with stop in Doha). I didn't want to leave the plane. Most comfortable lie flat seats I've ever been on. Food/service was fabulous.. Great tips on your part - thank you. You mentioned some airlines I would never have considered before ✈️👍☺️

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sounds great! You have certainly got us interested in Qatar Q suites. Hopefully we have an opportunity someday and find some bargains. Thanks so much for sharing. Happy trails in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@JohnMills-cm4qn]

We flew QSuites to Dubai from Atlanta last year. Liked it so much we are using them again to fly Atlanta to Riyadh tomorrow $7000 per person round trip but we will keep your travel hacks in mind when my wife retires next year

[@RetirementTravelers]

@@JohnMills-cm4qn Thanks for sharing!

[@bearisland55]

My husband and I use the same tactics. We recently returned from Tanzania where we were able to snag Qsuite business class seats on Qatar for $1,300 per person from LAX to Doha for the first leg. They are amazing. The 15-hour flight flew by (haha) and we were hugging our seats as we left. 😁 Unfortunately, we had to take coach back home. Never again! Looking at the value of a flight is also a good idea. I don't think we could afford an Emirates business or first-class ticket, but their coach class is so great that it is a good value. However, Qatar's coach is not great, so looking for that business class option is worth the work and research.

[@RetirementTravelers]

More great ideas. Thanks for sharing. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@didittraveller1260]

Thank you for this video. I’m in my sixties now and I can’t handle a 15 hour long-haul flight in economy like I could in my twenties. I’m from Calgary and we are very lucky to have Westjet based here and offering so many oversea nonstop flights. But a couple years ago I found a great business class fare on Qatar Airlines from Toronto to Doha to Islamabad in a QSuite and return. You’re right very addictive. I’ll use your hacks next year for a Southwest Asia trip.

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are welcome. Thanks. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@TheMarnya]

I recently flew Sri Lankan business class to the Maldives. Highly recommend and it was so much cheaper than anything else out there. Thanks for the tips!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! We will check that our for sure. Much appreciated. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@janclark9362]

We recently were flying to Japan for a cruise that ended in Seoul. We are in Houston, TX. United and ANA fly nonstop to Tokyo but the cheapest business prices were around 8k per person. We used points to fly United to Monterey, Mexico and flew nonstop to Seoul on Aeromexico. Then took Asiana business class to Tokyo. We flew back from Seoul to Monterey on Aeromexico with a change of planes in Mexico City. The total for business class to and from Monterey, including Asiana, was right at 6k total for both of us.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We absolutely love this comment! Thank you so much. This is exactly the spirit of our philosophy on finding affordable business class tickets. Feel free to join and share this type of info on our new Facebook Retirement Travelers Community. We will put a link below. Thanks again for following along and contributing. John and Bev facebook.com/share/g/mvfuHwp7iJviWjHt/

[@craigo2142]

Great series!!! I think it would be great if you did another lesson on your Chase card. I don't quite understand how all the points work between flights, hotels, etc. It would be interesting to see some examples to decide if it is worth it for someone like me. Thanks

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestion! We did a video this past year, but we are working on a update for Travel School. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@nncadi1]

Once again, y’all hit it out the park. Thank you for all the wonderful, out of the box information….that’s what makes your channel unique and truly informative.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our pleasure! So glad you found it helpful. Appreciate the kind words about our channel. We do love what we are doing and enjoy helping people travel. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@deirdremcintosh3266]

We live in Edinburgh and were going to Japan. We took Qatar economy from Edinburgh Doha and then we were offered a business upgrade at a fantastic price from Doha to Tokyo. We had a Qatar Q suite from Doha to Tokyo and it was the best overnight long haul flight we had ever taken. Look for business upgrades on sectors of your flight. Thanks for your entertaining content. 👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Some great ideas. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@barry4848]

I booked a business class flight from Orlando to Seoul via a business class consolidator. Flew on Delta. Only hitch, Delta would not let me board, as I did not have a flight out of Seoul ( I was flying one way) I quickly booked the cheapest flight out of Seoul, and they let me board. I could have used a virtual ticket but I was very time constrained....in the end It all worked out...worth getting a quote from a business class consolidator

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@oldporkchops]

Hi Barry, I've booked using business class consolidation companies before but some actual operate by buying other people's points and redeeming them for biz class tickets. When airlines catch on to this redemption, they have every right to deny boarding as it is written in their terms of service that points can only be redeemed for oneself or one's immediate family. Some airlines like Korean Airlines even required proof of family relationship when redeeming points. Some other airlines are not so strict. Nevertheless, biz class consolidators do offer great value. An example is a biz consolidator ticket I booked was JFK to Singapore via Tokyo on ANA. It was $1900 one way. Regular fares were five figures.

[@lindadorman2869]

My Chase Sapphire Reserve card provides Priority Pass membership as a travel benefit so I get unlimited lounge access no matter what class I'm flying. Recently I had to change the date on one of my long-haul economy class tickets (Manila to Chicago) on EVA Air. By being flexible with the date, I was able to upgrade for only $600 - well worth the extra money for a 16-hr flight with a stopover in Taipei.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We love our CSR card. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and tips. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@malcolmwarner589]

Great information. As i live in SE Asia (Bali), I find repositioning from Jakarta or Bangkok to start my Europe Business class flights. Gulf Air from Bangkok/Singapore to Europe are very well priced with short layovers in Bahrain. I always book directly with the Airline in case there are itinerary changes. Not worth the risk with an OTA or 3rd party travel agent.

[@leapintothewild]

Planning on a lot of time in SE Asia, so thanks for sharing this!

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are welcome. Glad you found it helpful. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We will check it out. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@timknguyen]

Great video! I have found that Brussels is an excellent entry point into Europe, especially from Newark. Amsterdam can also be an option

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the tip. What airline is the Newark to Brussels? Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@nunuvyurbiz123]

That’s my plan, business class for long haul flights. What is your fallback for short flights? Economy or premium economy? I recently had a premium economy flight and while not as good as business it was still a lot better than economy.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Mid-range we would look for premium economy or exit row seating with a little more room. John always looks for aisle seats so he can get up and stretch. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@maryswanson2412]

Thank you so much for sharing this info! I’m also at high risk for blood clots and had been very concerned about FT travel with that issue. It’s so helpful to hear that you’re able to manage it successfully. Thanks as always for your guidance and experience. You’re my travel heroes! ❤️😊

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for following along with us and hope you can find some great bargains. At some point we learn that managing our health is the most important thing. We believe there are bargains out there as well, if you are patient and flexible. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Laura-kb5sr]

We asked our doctor before our long-haul flight, and advice included compression stockings. But everyone's health issues are different.

[@maryegerton6848]

I travelled business class from Krakow to Toronto for next to nothing. I heard an announcement that they were upgrading for something like 50 euros. Needless to say I was the first person in line. I loved it. The service! The space! It was with Lot Air. I just came back from spending the summer with my grandson in SEA. The trip was epic but the travel was a nightmare. Air India! Don’t do it! 😊 Happy Halloween you guys ❤

[@RetirementTravelers]

So happy to hear about your incredible ride! How awesome is it to score a business class deal? It’s addictive, for sure! Happy Halloween and Happy Journeys! John & Bev

[@ritalangenfelds7801]

Great videos!! You offer such informative travel advice and are an inspiration. My husband and I are also retired travellers who don't travel as extensively as you but still travel a lot (5-6 months a year). John, I too got a DVT from travel 7 years ago (flight related) and a PE 5 years ago (not flight related). Since the first embolism I was put on blood thinners and am still on them. But that hasn't stopped our travels. We have been able to snag a few business class upgrades but not as many as I would like. I am going to try your suggestions as you are correct, flexibility is key and luckily as retirees we have the time. Safe travels and keep up the excellent travel tips. P.S. your Eastern European travel videos have helped me plan our travels this March and April. So looking forward to seeing the places you recommended, Thank you!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for following along with us and all the kind words. Sorry to hear about your DVT and PE. Hope you have a wonderful trip to Eastern Europe. There are so much fun and affordable places to visit. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@DunRovinRanch-1969]

This is useful. My wife and I are strongly considering repositioning cruises for at least one leg of these trips. They seem to be about the same cost as 1st/business class flights.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great. Glad it was helpful. Repositioning cruises are a nice addition to planning for travel. Enjoy the journey and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@stephaniebloom4220]

Just stumbled across your channel and this video is packed full of advance tricks for snagging a great value on a business class ticket. Just subscribed and now I am going to binge watch the rest of this series. Thanks so much!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We love binge watchers. 🤣 Hope you enjoy our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ChanceMai]

This was a lot of fun to watch. I currently live in the Detroit area and love to travel to Asia. I have found that it's much cheaper to fly to Chicago and then book flights out of Chicago. I also have long legs so I need to be able to book extra leg room seats so I also book as early as possible.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you are enjoying our channel and thanks for sharing your experience. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@billligon4005]

This is a good tactic for me since I need to avoid long 10 hour plus direct flights. The layover at various places is just what the doctor ordered to give my body time to rest from the high altitudes of air travel - cabin pressures are generally at 8,000 feet which means I'll need to use my Portable Oxygen unit just to go to the bathroom. Thanks for the info.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Xmaslightsallyear]

Cancun to Frankfurt on Condor Airlines. Beautiful biz class on new A330 Nios, reasonably priced.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We will definitely check this out. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joellenwilcox1878]

​@RetirementTravelers Condor flies BWI - FRA, and several other US cities to FRA.

[@ChristinaDeAngelis-b7g]

Your videos are truly helping me step up my travel game. I never miss a travel school tutorial and I refer back to them constantly. I'm learning from the best. Love you both.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Your comments always put a smile on our faces! Safe travels and many blessings in 2024. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@kellymeredithdc7436]

I use points and miles for traveling especially business class flights. I also use points for hotels as well. I usually pay for the short flights. But long haul I want a lie flat. I am a big fan or repositioning flights to get the best deal. Flying Blue every month has a special with flight with either Air France or KLM, Iberia has great flights for cheap to Spain from JFK. If you can find them for cheap. Good luck with future travels. I love to see it :)

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! That is great to know. We love Spain and will check that one out. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ericxvn]

I am thankful for all your knowledge sharing. Could it be possible you would do a segment on how you would normally to search for tickets?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great suggestion! Thanks. We will put it on our Travel School list. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@scottcharette1744]

John & Bev, excellent content as always and we really like what you’re doing with Travel School! Great strategy to find the flight first, then build the trip around it. We just did this yesterday for a long-haul to Asia that we’re now planning for the Fall. Thanks for the idea…saved us $ thousands!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our pleasure! That is wonderful to hear. Have a great trip. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@loridemars4549]

Wow! What a great video filled with some ingenious tips. You really got us thinking about our approach to booking flights. We'll definitely be looking at different ways to fly to our destinations in the future.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Let us know if you find success or develop some additional tips. Happy trails and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@StreetSmartMillionaire]

Great video! We live in Colombia and Boquete. Wanted to spend 3 months in Brazil and got two business class tickets on Copa from Medellin to Rio for 3k for the pair by booking way in advance. John's knee on the seat story is a real eye opener.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for watching. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@la5150hi-lophoto]

Glad to hear you're still traveling despite the health scare!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@verar7060]

These are great tips when planning in advance. I have a tip when flying from US to Europe. I sometimes get premium economy tickets and then immediately upgrade to business for about $600 each way. The cost comes up to $3500 round trip versus around $7000 if you just book business. The only thing is that your luggage weight doesn’t change to 32 kg per bag but for me that’s ok. In the past 4 years my tickets from San Francisco were ranging from $1500-$3200 business class.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful and thanks for sharing your tip. That is a great idea. It would work for us because we pack light. Thanks again and safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@sanjeevbhatnagar5363]

May I ask which airlines are you using to do the upgrade ?

[@verar7060]

@@sanjeevbhatnagar5363 swiss airlines

[@rahulshenoy5737]

You both are so straight to the point and the innocence only adds to your sweetnes!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for following along with us. Glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@lupus9596]

Turkish airlines has great business class deals. Travel between Europe and the US off season can be 2000 for 4oundtrip tickets. I fly for work but still look for bargains at business class. Off season is typically Fed to June ans Late Eept to End Nov.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@AI_MIT_71]

I was told by the airline employees that just book the economy class, when checking in at the airport, ask the counter agent: can I upgrade into the business class and how much does it cost? If that flight has some empty business class seats , they would upgrade you for a couple hundreds dollars more.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great tip. Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@evangelicalsnever-lie9792]

But what if you end up in that seat for a 20 hour nonstop flight? Not willing to risk it and will pay more for the proper seat.

[@SoulfulVeg]

What great tips. After I returned from China to the USA on the back of the plane a few years ago, I promised myself never again. This helps.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@susandiekmann]

This is yet another helpful video, and I'm so grateful to both of you! I've never had a blood clot, but my whole body swells up when traveling. That has always made me concerned that something more serious will happen, so I'd like to avoid an issue on our long haul flights. Your video provides some great "thinking outside the box" ideas. THANKS!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. You really DON"T want a blood clot, so hopefully you can put some of these tips to good use. Happy trails and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carlaseier9735]

I am LOVING being back in school!! Travel school!! 😃 You said that you check the business class seats as soon as they drop. How do you know when that is? Is each airline different? Do they always post the fares x number of months ahead of the dates being flown? Thanks for all of your hard work to put these videos together. I really enjoy the feeling of sitting down across the table from you.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. You are such a good student!!! We start checking a full year in advance. This is generally when tickets open up. So glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@dangrad]

331 days out is when inventory is loaded Airlines which sell seats in the three main CRSs all open inventory 331 days ahead of time

[@dotted8-]

I’m currently at a Hyatt near the airport that’s 2 hours from home. While watching your video and hearing John’s clot story I just realized I forgot to throw my compression socks in my bag, darn it! I have a 5.5 hour flight early tomorrow morning…

[@RetirementTravelers]

There are usually places at airports you could buy a pair. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@dcarr125]

I just now added compression socks to my travel list. Thank you❤

[@sandymiley6206]

Great information! Thank you. Hopefully my spouse and I can be like ya’ll when we grow up 😂 (aka retire)

[@timmackey2896]

We have been doing something similar finding different US cities that have cheaper overseas business. Now we’re expanding that to everywhere reasonable using a VPN to purchase cheap long distance business class. The one thing retirees have is time to explore all the various options. Just booked Saudi Airlines round trip from Los aAngeles to Bangkok, total for both of us $5400 US.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Congrats on finding such a great deal. Thanks for sharing. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SedSid-v7b]

So nice travel videos! just was delighted to know about your passing by "Jeddah" my home city. In fact, we are about to start our "Retirement travels" and I am so lucky to have been through your helpful videos! it will be all good guide for us!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Good luck with your retirement travels and hope you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@papi8659]

Agree Dublin, Barcelona and Budapest are usually the cheapest business tickets from Europe

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Some great choices. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@roychastain2958]

Thank you for this video. Great ideas! When we flew to Paris in 2021 & 2022, I booked Business Class when the reservations first opened up. Much cheaper than if we had waited!! Another, perhaps minor savings, was I booked with Delta. We flew on Air France, but we could select our seats without paying a fee. (WhenI looked at booking with AF, they wanted $$ for seat assignments. I will definitely check out your suggestions.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Hope you enjoy our channel and website. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@alisondecristofaro5486]

Y'all are retirement goals! We are not quite there yet, but we will benefit from your wisdom when time comes. Thank you!❤

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our pleasure! So glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@chriswissmar504]

Yes totally true and full of integrity.The random acts of kindness keep the flow going

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Happy journeys, John and Bev

[@carolmartin4413]

Never traveled extensively on long itineraries so cost analyses were easier. This is excellent for people who can do it. A little time taken to check what's out there can save you a dumpload...short or long. And I checked often for price changes...and took advantage of them. Another great topic covered well. 🖐 Wisconsin...cold and damp. 😢

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and glad you found it helpful. Thanks for following along with us. We loved our time in Wisconsin, but it was summertime! 😎 Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@carolmartin4413]

@RetirementTravelers thanks...it is a pretty state...my favorites are balmy spring, not too hot summer and crisp, invigorating fall...used to like winter@younger for snowmobiling/skiing...at 77 not so much. Waiting for your next trek and rooting you on 👍

[@wayfaringSGrean]

We took a lie flat seat with Zipair from LAX to NRT (Tokyo) then to SIN for USD2800+++ altogether. It's just like any lay flat business class seats except that it does not have in-flight entertainment but has free wifi.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We will check it out. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@wayfaringSGrean]

@@RetirementTravelers also, sign up for a platinum membership with World Travellers Club to get notifications for deals and discounts for business and first class seats. It's $69 a year but you save so much from the discounted prices.

[@AzminaNoordin]

Thank you for posting these videos. I’m so glad I came across the both of you. We are retired now and have been doing trips twice a year, but it’s always so expensive and pricy to book from Toronto Canada to the city or country we desire to go. I loved your suggestions to travel to the surrounding areas and get to the destination in comfort. We’ve travelled to India and we had a long haul flight to New Delhi, East Africa we were able to book business class after collecting AX points. 😊 in 2 weeks we’re off to Italy and Greece on premium economy even though I would have loved business class but it’s very pricy. Thanks so much for the tips. 🙏😍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful. Enjoy Italy and Greece. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@k9healthy]

❤ thank you! I highly suggest you visit Japan soon. The scenery is great, crime is non-existent, and the food is just awesome. The yen is low now and Japan is very affordable! But don't wait too long, because the currency may not stay low forever. Zipair is a low cost airline that offers lie flat seats from the US to Tokyo. Happy Travels!

[@RetirementTravelers]

We are planning to go to the World Expo in Osaka in 2025, along with spending some more time in Japan. We can't wait. Thanks for sharing the info on ZipAir. Some great prices! Happy trails and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Sanjay9442]

always best to book with airline because third party can create issues with changing tickets. I experienced issues with orbitz and I will never use them again.

[@RetirementTravelers]

We agree with booking directly with airlines. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@tedlasalvia9668]

Greetings from San Diego, CA, +1 Subscriber - Interesting video. I too traveled in BC when I traveled a lot for work, but now, I'm trying to plan trips to Asia (Japan and the Philippines) from my part of the country. I look forward to watching more of your videos in the future (especially when I retire).

[@RetirementTravelers]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for joining our travel community and safe travels. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@paulcook-j2c]

great video. Agree about Dublin being a cheaper European destination - even cheaper than cities you fly through to get to Dublin -which is of course weird. Another technique to consider is only flying during the day with hotel stop overs.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the suggestion. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@IsaacMendezGordillo]

Thanks for the insider tricks, can't wait to feel fancy up in the sky.

[@RetirementTravelers]

You are welcome. Hope you find some amazing bargains. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jenniferwiley5025]

This is so helpful! I'm just starting to plan our trip to Europe in October. I've got to get to it to find that business class deal!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your planning and hope you have a great trip. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@joannelamar6389]

I wish you were a travel agency. I would travel through you every time.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Now that's an idea! Thanks for your support and following along with us. Happy trails and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@dimebagg1]

Cheapest direct route from Europe to south east Asia is Athens to Singapore direct. On scoot. Check it out. Singapore because of scoot is in fact not an expensive flight.

[@RetirementTravelers]

What a great suggestion. Thanks so much. We will definitely check this one out. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@glennr9913]

La Compagnie is a small "business class only" airline that flies between NY City and a few European cities.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the tip. We love hearing about stuff like this. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@davedaniels4967]

First time viewing your channel. Interesting concept. I was always wondering if booking through foreign airlines was good or not. I'll have to watch more of your videos.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks and so glad you found our channel. We hope you find our content helpful. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@richlandzee8686]

JAL typically have good deals on their business class products. USD$4,100 minus CB from my credit card sweetened the deal. This year, I managed to snag the same price, flying Qatar Airways QSuites. It's even cheaper by $300 if you book through 3rd party, but I didn't want to deal with the hassle just in case issues arise. Both are direct DFW to SIN through NRT/HND or DOHA. 24+ hour flights. Yes, look for flights early. I did it 2 months ahead of time. Even better if you're retired and have all the time in the world. Just be aware that some cheap business class ticket classes do NOT come with lounge access.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

My husband also has Factor V Leiden and it is on blood thinners for life. Long flights can be problematic.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Sorry to hear that. John will be on blood thinners the rest of his life and always something we have to consider. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@JoséAndrade-n1k]

These hacks are golden, thanks for sharing your secrets!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. We hope you find some great bargains on Business Class tickets. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@berg8970]

While we were in Peru I was contacted via email for a chance to upgrade our coach tickets to first class by electronic bid. Thinking it would never happen I put in a bid of $10.00 additional to what we had paid for our tickets, low and behold I was the highest bidder. That was the first time we ever flew first-class. You can also contact airlines shortly before to see about upgrades at a much cheaper price than what was originally listed.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Wow, that's awesome. Great job. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Reston2017]

You are delightful people who are good will ambassadors for US international travelers. Thanks for sharing your lessons learned. It would be fun to run into you here, there…anywhere.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words. Stay in touch with us and we love meeting fellow travelers on the road. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@MildredVelazquez-vy3ub]

Loving the Travel School series! Looking forward to your next video.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Yay! Thank you! More to come. So glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@TracyLalonde-c7e]

We found Montreal to Paris Bus Class $900 Air France and similar with Copa Airlines!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Great tip. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@TimW-m9w]

Interesting video. Before booking a business class seat do check out the airline’s planned plane for the route and seat configuration- they can differ in seat width, leg pitch, comfort and most importantly privacy offered

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and for the travel tips. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@retirementbudgettravel699]

Wow! Mind blowing!! Never thought to look for other airports in other countries!! Thank you so much for the excellent information! We love your videos!! And travel school!! ✈️❤️👍🏼

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our pleasure. So glad you are enjoying our Travel School. We love good "students" like you. 😊 Thanks for following along. Safe travels and many blessings in 2024, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@charlesjay8818]

It is truely mind blowing that you never thought to look at airports in other countries. Are you 5 years old, or live in a cave?

[@bertandernie521]

Oslo is also a good place to start in Europe. Budapest too. Thanks for your hints - really good video!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks. We had heard good things about the pricing on Oslo. We were told Qatar had some deals. Thanks again for sharing. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@bertandernie521]

@@RetirementTravelers and BA have deals from there .... cheaper than direct from London.

[@viktoriaparker6784]

You guys are great! Such an inspiration! We have the same thought of traveling in retirement. Not sure if we are as brave as you are. But maybe we will. Thank you for your practical videos!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the kind words and you guys can do it. We are cheering for you! Glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Let us know if we help your planning process. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@hikercat0126]

Timing is a key too! You can’t find bargains during peak season.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Great point. Retirement is a wonderful time to find bargains. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@SD-co9xe]

Holy cow! Sorry about the blood clot issue. How scary- glad you are ok.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. I was fortunate, but there is lasting damage from the DVT that I'm always aware of. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@ChrisB-sv1gz]

I live in the philippines and have been able to get round-trip business class tickets on Qatar Airways from CRK (Clark) to DFW (Dallas) for as little as $4000 USD. These flights you only incur one stop in Doha!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We've had several people mention Qatar airlines, so we will be checking this out. Also, we love the Philippines so we will be heading back that way. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@a.k722]

Great useful tips! I just clicked the subscribe button

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the video. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@rais1953]

Travellers in the parts of the world covered by Malaysian-based Air Asia could consider Air AsiaX's Premium Flatbed option. They don't call it Business Class but effectively that's what it is, only cheaper and without an entertainment screen.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks so much for sharing. We will definitely check this out. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@poomchantha2584]

Excellent tips! Just snagged a R/T biz class from IAD>BKK for $2.5K. TY 👍

[@RetirementTravelers]

Fantastic! This puts a smile on our faces. So glad we could help. Hope you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@brianharder8592]

Thank you for this great information! My wife and I have watched a number of your videos and find them very informative. You may have already made a video on airline travel cards? We have used a United Airlines travel card for our airfare., However, this limits the airlines that we search. Suggestions?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! We put EVERYTHING on Chase Sapphire Reserve. Here is the video we made on it a few months ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKvNg6x3bN92gdUsi=mNLeP7S62_Kva7CK John and Bev

[@nicholasrv8834]

Saudia in conomy is disastrous. but in business long haul, it is acceptable. I was in Paris a few months ago, and found a flight from Tunis to Jakarta in business on saudia for 900$ one way. Great deal. the only issue is I had to overnight in Tunis, then overnight in Jeddah. Sometimes time spent traveling isn't worth the savings. I would not do it again. I prefer to hop on Turkish which is 2.5x the price, but it is done and dusted in 18 hours, with a 2 hour layover in Istanbul. and turkish business class is top notch. The loung at IST also has fantastic food, great showers, and a nice sleep area on a 1st come 1st served basis

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@susanbrown1307]

Love your videos. They're full of great information and very well done. In regards to transferring points to airlines, however, I would like point out a potential problem. We found a great deal with AirFrance for a flight using miles. We were going to transfer miles to Air France and purchase additional miles with them for this flight. There was a short time limit for miles refunds and cancelling the transfer. If we had done the transfer and purchase we would have been stuck with miles locked into AirFrance because they cancelled all tickets booked at that low miles price as it turned out to be a mistake.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing that issue. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@VKjk]

Qatar is offering 40% off their Qpoints for another couple of days. It’s cheaper to buy the qpoints and use the points for J class. You’ll need to top up very little after. Good luck! Oh, don’t forget to sign up for their membership 😉

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for the info! Great tip. We are anxious to try out Qatar airlines. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@Triplanner13]

We are in our early 70s and have started buying refundable tickets because we never know when we might have our wings clipped. It has paid off in going to Madrid from Vancouver. We ended up cancelling our Prem Econo seats and repurchased them for $2600 less. The same was true when we were going to Italy. Business class seats really dropped Vancouver to Rome. Using points we were able to book business for $1k less than our Prem Econo seats so of course we jumped on it. Air France and KLM allow you to pay a $95 non refundable fee to hold the rate for 30 hrs. Not worth it because it is free if you book it and cancel within 24 hrs. We changed our credit card to one that allows you to book through the airline and submit the paperwork within 90 days. It gives you much more flexibility and hassle using one where you have to use their booking system. Do you book refundable tickets?

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. We usually buy refundable or ones we can at least get a future credit for minimal risk. We have had to change on several occasions. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@jimelliott9486]

Latam also continues on from Auckland to Sydney. The fare is much lower than Air New Zealand or Qantas between Auckland and Sydney.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Thanks for sharing. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@agapenotaryservice9989]

Most helpful travel blog ive watched yet. Thanks so much!

[@RetirementTravelers]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for following along. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/

[@kathleenbrock-v1b]

Thank you so much for these helpful videos. I enjoy following you both and all your tips.

[@RetirementTravelers]

Our pleasure! So glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Happy trails, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/