| Flying business or first class across the Atlantic has | | | | Eos now has a generous frequent flyer scheme called |
| always been out of reach for most travellers. Airline | | | | 'Club 48' which will help them gain more customer |
| ticket prices from New York to London normally start | | | | loyalty. |
| around $3000 and can easily reach $7000. Here are | | | | Note, London Stansted is situated north east of |
| some top tips to reduce that airfare and maybe get | | | | London. The Stansted Express train runs between |
| you in to that business class premium cabin. | | | | Stansted and Liverpool Street station and the journey |
| Tip 1: Fly Low-Cost All-Business Class MaxJet | | | | takes around 45 minutes. |
| Check out this low-cost all business class option. | | | | Silverjet will fly from London Luton to New York |
| MaxJet started flying a 6-times-a-week service | | | | Newark from January 2007 using a 100 seat Boeing |
| between London Stansted STN and New York JFK in | | | | 767 in an all business class configuration. Prices start at |
| November 2005. It operates a 102 seat Boeing 767 | | | | £799 / $1700 return. |
| with 60 inch seat pitch and provides a quality | | | | Tip 3: Fly Off-beat |
| multi-course meal. They also fly from London Stansted | | | | If flying Trans-Atlantic business class, get price |
| to Washington Dulles IAD (6-x-weekly) and London to | | | | quotations from the more 'off-beat' airlines that you |
| Las Vegas twice a week. | | | | may never have considered. For example, Iceland Air |
| The normal airfare will start at around $1500 return all | | | | flies from Europe to New York via Reykjavik and can |
| inclusive and the pricing works on a first come, first | | | | be extremely competitive with business class airfares, |
| serve basis - so book early to get the very lowest | | | | often under $1700. It routinely undercuts the big boys |
| fares. | | | | by 30-40% in a bid to poach traffic to route through |
| However you should watch out for their occasional | | | | Iceland rather than fly non-stop. |
| special offers. Prices on their London - Washington | | | | Some other off-beat airlines ply their trade between |
| flights have been as low as £599 / $999 return. | | | | the UK and North East USA such as Kuwait Airlines |
| The London - New York return has been offered for | | | | and Air India, which fly from London and New York, |
| $750 / £430 - amazing value and lower than | | | | and Pakistan International Airlines which serves |
| many economy fares! | | | | Manchester, UK to both Chicago and the Big Apple. |
| Their tickets are bookable on the major online agents | | | | You can often find some excellent cheap deals on |
| such as Travelocity and Expedia as well as on their | | | | these Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. |
| own website. | | | | Tip 4: Go Premium |
| MaxJet are undercutting the major established carriers | | | | If your budget doesn't stretch as far as business class, |
| significantly and it has put downward pressure on | | | | then book a premium economy ticket. You will get |
| Trans-Atlantic business class ticket prices. Remember | | | | superior legroom and a better chair than the standard |
| how the budget airlines in Europe completely changed | | | | economy class seat. It will also mean that you are |
| the short-haul air market - you can now find flights | | | | more likely to be upgraded for free to business class. |
| there for little more than taxes and charges. | | | | This is due to the relatively small number of premium |
| And consider how lucrative the Trans-Atlantic market | | | | economy seats available - any overbooked situation in |
| has been in the past for the big airlines, with high | | | | economy will overspill to premium economy and you |
| revenues gained from business and corporate flyers. | | | | could be bumped up to business class. This doesn't |
| Maxjet should continue to do well in 2007. | | | | happen everytime, but choose a busy flight and you |
| Tip 2: Try First Class Eos Airlines or SilverJet | | | | will not harm your chances. |
| If you are flying first class Trans-Atlantic you should | | | | Tip 5: Invest in Your Travel Knowledge |
| have a look at Eos Airlines, another recent start-up | | | | You should consider investing in the Ultimate Airfares |
| flying the same London Stansted to New York JFK | | | | & Upgrades Guide from This teaches you many more |
| route. Eos runs a 48 seat Boeing 757 with 78 inch flat | | | | useful insider tips and tricks to maximise your chances |
| beds. The service is a lot more expensive than | | | | of flying business or first class, helps you find the |
| MaxJet with return tickets starting at $3200 (book 30 | | | | world's lowest airfares in any class and how to really |
| days ahead) but this premium product is competing | | | | make the most of your airmiles (most miles are |
| directly with the high quality first class cabins of British | | | | unfortunately wasted). If you ever fly internationally, this |
| Airways and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. | | | | guide is a must-read. |