Best times to book business-class award flights: Last-minute vs. advanced bookings
If you want to fly business class for an upcoming trip without paying a massive amount of cash, you may consider booking an award flight. Business-class award flights can be difficult to find on some routes as availability can be limited. You can improve your chances of snagging a great award by learning how to search for award availability and the best times to book business-class award flights.
Here's what you need to know.
How to find award availability
Some airlines make every seat available with miles. For most other airlines, though, you'll need to find award availability before you can book an award flight.
There are often multiple tiers of award availability with varying award rates that you can book through the airline operating the flight. But you can usually only book the less-expensive saver award seats through partner programs.
In short, award availability is a complicated topic with always more to learn. A good place to start is our guide on searching award availability, but I also highly recommend reading our story about apps and websites that make award redemptions easier to find. (Point.me and Seats.aero have become indispensable for me.)
It's also worth taking a look at the following stories if you're interested in booking award flights with an airline in a specific alliance:
- The best websites for searching Oneworld award availability
- The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
- The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability
Related: Check seasonal flights for better award availability and pricing
Book business-class award flights far in advance
If you plan your trip at least 11 months in advance, you may be able to snag your business-class award flight right when the booking window opens.
See our guide on how far in advance you can book a flight to see when bookings might open for the award flight(s) you want to book. However, if you are booking a flight operated by a different airline than the one through which you want to book, you'll need to wait for both programs to open their booking windows.
It's best to start checking awards on dates near yours through the program you plan to use at least a week before you expect the booking window to open. Doing so will let you see award pricing and whether the program tends to have saver award availability at the start of the booking window.
Earlier this year, my husband and I snagged some end-of-schedule American AAdvantage business-class award flights to fly from the U.S. to Japan for 60,000 miles plus $5.60 each. We plan to ski in Niseko, Japan, again in 2025, and these flights will help us do so.
Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots
Book last-minute business-class award flights
While last-minute paid rates are often sky-high, you can sometimes use points and miles to book last-minute flights at saver rates. A glance at Seats.aero may show a significant amount of last-minute business-class award availability from a city you live in or a city in which you could book a positioning flight.
Some programs don't release award availability to partner programs for premium cabin award flights until the last minute. One well-known example is if you want to book Lufthansa First Class through a partner program (such as Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan or United MileagePlus). A look at the Seats.aero Lufthansa First Class Finder shows ample award options — but as is now common, they were all within the next three days.
My husband and I previously based ourselves in Frankfurt, hoping to book a last-minute Lufthansa First award flight. A now-fixed Avianca LifeMiles glitch led us to find another way home. We plan to base ourselves in Frankfurt again and wait for an award we want to book this fall.
Related: These award tickets are best to book at the last minute
Book business-class award flights when there's availability
If you need a flight between two airports, you can check for award availability periodically. However, it's often better (and easier) to set up award availability alerts. Various services let you set up award availability alerts, but I use two paid services: Seats.aero Pro account and ExpertFlyer Premium account (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures).
Once you get an award alert (or find availability on your own), check that it is available via the loyalty program you plan to book through. Then, transfer in points if needed and book your award.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Use airline promotions to book business-class award flights
Some airline loyalty programs offer periodic promotions that you can use to snag business-class award flights at lower-than-usual rates. The best time to book your business-class award flight might be during an airline promotion.
For example, you can often find good transatlantic deals for flights operated by Air France and KLM through the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards. These Promo Rewards can be great if you want to travel between the U.S. and Europe.
You can also find deals on award flights operated by Singapore Airlines through KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes. These deals are great for visiting Asia. Promo Rewards are occasionally valid on Singapore's fifth-freedom routes, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Frankfurt.
Related: Points and miles travel deals for this month
Use transfer bonuses to book business-class award flights
Finally, you'll occasionally find transfer bonuses that give you more miles when you convert transferable points into airline miles. The best time to book a business-class award flight might be when there's a transfer bonus to the airline loyalty program you plan to book through.
For example, if a business-class award flight costs 80,000 miles and the transfer ratio to the program is 1:1, you'd usually need to transfer 80,000 points to book the award flight. But, during a 20% transfer bonus, you'd only need to transfer 67,000 points since the transfer bonus would give you an additional 13,400 miles.
Related: A complete list of transfer bonuses over the past decade — which issuer is the most generous?
Bottom line
As you can tell, there's no set "best" time to book a business-class award flight.
It does pay to be patient, though, and to set up award availability alerts. By doing so, you can book when and if award availability appears for the flights you want.
If you grow impatient or can't find award availability at the price you want, leveraging a transfer bonus to book an award priced slightly higher than you'd like can still provide good value.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.