2. Do you need to travel in Business Class / First Class?

Whilst cost is an important consideration, the choice in class of travel is frequently influenced by status, comfort and flexibility. These factors often confuse, distort and inflate the budgeting process.

A fully flexible Economy ticket has the same versatility as a First Class ticket.

Someone travelling to New York wanting a fully flexible ticket with British Airways is going to be paying about £760 including taxes. However if you want to travel Business Class, that same trip will cost you over 5 times as much, about £4,200. If however you wanted to travel further forwards on the aircraft, in First Class, then you will be paying over 50% more again, nearly £6,700.

If one wants a more reasonably priced ticket that offers a little more comfort than Economy, then World Traveller Plus is a more sensible £1,373. More and more long haul airlines are offering this mid class product in recognition of the need to acknowledge the client's desire to control the cost of travel.

To the cost-conscious traveller these differentials in price should therefore focus the mind in terms of justifying that the class of ticket is appropriate for the journey.