Business Class Bargains: Airlines with the smallest price difference between economy and business
For any keen traveller, business class air travel just has a certain allure about it.
From a smoother check-in process and a more generous luggage allowance to exclusive lounges and enhanced in-flight entertainment, it is often compared to being in a luxury hotel at 30,000 feet.
But flying business is something a lot of people feel they can only dream of though, with it having connotations of hefty price tags only feasible to the rich. Instead many default to flying economy in a bid to keep costs down.
However, it turns out that flying in luxury doesn’t have to break the bank.
At Holidu, we analysed the price difference between economy and business class fares from over 30 of the world’s biggest airlines to find out whose premium experience is the best value for money.
So, if any savvy travellers are looking for a luxury experience for less, these are the airlines to fly with!
Key Findings:
- Across the airlines in the study, business class is 250% more expensive than flying economy, on average.
- Four of the top ten airlines are Asian and four are based in Europe. Only one African (Air Algerie) and American (American Airlines) made the top ten ranking.
- The Oceanian airlines in the study are among those with the biggest price discrepancy, with Air New Zealand and Qantas’ business classes being 263.55% and 342.34% more expensive than their economies respectively.
- The route with the lowest price difference between economy and business class tickets in the study was Iberia’s flight from Madrid to Athens with tickets being £454 and £562 respectively.
- On the other hand, the route with the biggest price discrepancy is Etihad Airway’s flight from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, with a 1,271.17% difference between its economy price of £48.15 and that of its £660.22 business class ticket.
- Premium carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways appear to have bigger cost differences between their economy and business class fares than lower-cost carriers, which reflects their focus on attracting premium travellers.
- Hainan Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air India, KLM, Emirates and Etihad Airways all have a higher price discrepancy between economy and business classes on their short-haul flights compared to long-haul.
1. All Nippon Airways
The airline that had the smallest price difference between economy and business class across the board was All Nippon Airways, otherwise known as ANA. Headquartered in Tokyo, ANA is Japan’s biggest airline. It flies to around 50 destinations within Japan and 32 international destinations in Asia, Europe and North America, offering business class on its short, mid and long-haul flights.
On average, business class on ANA is only 82.22% more expensive than its economy fares, which, compared to the industry average of 250.19%, is pretty impressive! For example, when we conducted the study, their Tokyo to Seoul flight was showing as £823.50 for economy but only £289 more for business class. Considering this includes lounge access, fast-track security, and comfier seats and amenities, it’s definitely good value for money!
2. Japan Airlines
In second place is ANA’s main rival flag carrier, Japan Airlines. Also headquartered in Tokyo, the airline services 220 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. When it comes to upgrading, Japan Airlines was the only other airline where the price difference between economy and business class comes in at under 100%, with the latter being, on average, only 93.71% more expensive.
On the airline’s Tokyo to Hanoi route, it is only £371.51 more expensive to fly in business class – at £1,621.26 compared to £1,249.75 in economy – which is not at all a big expense for the added comfort you’d get on this six-hour and 30-minute journey. It clearly goes without saying that Japanese airlines are the way to go when you want to fly in luxury but for less!
3. Asiana Airlines
Rounding up the top three is another Asian airline, Asiana Airlines. One of South Korea’s two major airlines, Asiana Airlines accounts for around 25% of the country’s international aviation market. A member of Star Alliance, it is based at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and operates 90 international passenger routes and 14 domestic passenger routes throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
If you’re travelling from Seoul to Delhi with Asiana Airlines, business class is only £161.91 more expensive than flying in economy but includes a flat bed seat, inflight meals and relaxing amenities. Overall, flying business class with Asiana Airlines will be just over 119% more expensive than flying in economy on average.
Europe: Austrian Airlines
Looking at Europe specifically, Austrian Airlines has the lowest price difference between its economy and business classes. The airline is headquartered in Austria’s capital, Vienna, and flies to six domestic and more than 120 international destinations across 55 countries.
Austrian Airlines charges 194.82% more for its business class than its economy on average, ranking seventh overall in this study. For those flying from Vienna to Larnaca with the airline, business class is around 69.66% more expensive than economy but includes an extra item of hand luggage and hold luggage each, which is the equivalent of around £70. Not to mention free lounge access, exclusive menus and extra miles!
US: American Airlines
American Airlines was the US airline that ranked best for having the smallest cost difference between its economy and business classes, ranking sixth in the entire study. Headquartered in Fort Worth in Texas, American Airlines is one of the major US-based airlines but is technically the largest airline in the world when measured by scheduled passengers carried, revenue passenger mile and fleet size.
On average, the airline’s business class is 165.70% more expensive than economy. For example, flights from Dallas to Punta Cana were shown to be around £322 for economy when we conducted the data. However, business class was only showing to be around £542 for the four-hour and 30-minute flight to the Dominican Republic.
Highest: Etihad Airways
And what about on the other end of the scale? The airline that has the biggest markup on its business class tickets is Etihad Airways. The airline is one of the United Arab Emirates’ two flag carriers and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways is well known for the exceptional travel experiences it offers to luxury destinations, which might explain the price tag.
On average, the airline’s business class tickets are 592.82% more expensive than its economy tickets, which is over 200% more than any of the other airlines in the study! One of the most astronomical markups we noticed when analysing the data was on its Abu Dhabi to Muscat route where economy class was priced at £48.15 and business class was as much as £660.22! While Etihad Airways goes above and beyond a lot of other airlines when it comes to its business class offering (chauffeurs from your car to check-in desk and champagne on boarding), it’s definitely not the airline for you if you’re in the market for a bit of luxury for less!
Methodology
We took a list of global airlines offering business class on their flights and found the difference between the fares of this and their economy class across a sample of short, mid and long-haul flights from the airline’s headquarters airport and on the same day across the board.
We then took an average difference for each airline across the sample before analysing the lowest and, therefore, the best value for upgrading.
Airlines where business class was not available across short, mid and long-haul flights were excluded.
Data is correct as of March 2024.