Four steps to your best domestic first-class fare

Editor's note: This article was originally published by FirstClassFlyer.com in January 2005.

In only four steps, you can find the best domestic first-class fare for your route. Here's how.

Step one

First, find out the lowest "published" business- or first-class fare on your route. Ask a reservationist for the lowest business- or first-class fare in your specific market. Then try to work around the restrictions if there are any. This is critical. Don't start with your exact dates, if you can help it. Start with the dates that will give you the lowest fare. If you can adjust your dates slightly, you'll often find a fare you might otherwise miss (and you'd never know it existed if you didn't ask for the lowest fare possible). Even adjusting the time of day you depart can make a big difference. Asking a travel agent is preferable, since she can scan most airlines' premium fares at once. Or, you can ask an airline reservationist, though he'll usually only give you the carrier's fares.

Tip one: Ask the agent to look for Y-UP fares, a full coach fare with a free upgrade to the next class of service, and for A, D, I, or Z fare codes (don't worry, they'll know what you're talking about), which are heavily discounted business- and first-class fares.

Tip two: Then ask about alternative airports (i.e. Newark instead of JFK or LaGuardia; Burbank, Santa Ana, or Ontario instead of LAX). These airports often yield far lower premium cabin fares. Plus, availability might be better.

Now you'll know the airfares that your mileage or elite upgrade program must improve on.

Step two

If you're an elite member, determine the best fare that also allows you to confirm an elite upgrade at time of ticketing.

Step three

Rank the fares you have against redeeming miles for an upgrade.

Domestically, a mileage award for a premium seat is usually only of great value on long-haul routes and/or when a heavily discounted first-class fare isn't in the market and fares for upgradeable economy are high.

Step four

Weigh the costs in terms of the best value.

A low, confirmed first-class fare takes chance out of the equation, and will earn extra miles. Mileage upgrades can be a good idea if you have the miles to burn, but otherwise they're usually best saved for international flights. And remember, when all else fails, United's Ameniti.com two-for-one program can at least cut a domestic full-fare ticket in half.

Matthew Bennett has published FirstClassFlyer.com, a monthly newsletter dedicated to business- and first-class travel, for nine years. The editorial focus is on elite-status strategies, loyalty-program loopholes, and advanced-ticketing tactics for business- and first-class flights.