We Found the 10 Most Affordable Business Class Flights to Europe
We Found the 10 Most Affordable Business Class Flights to Europe
Condor
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/experiences/news/photos/the-10-most-affordable-business-class-flights-to-europe
Flying to Europe in style doesn't have to be a pipe dream.
Airfare prices are heating up. Even some domestic routes within the United States have caused sticker shock, including for this writer, who was surprised at the high cost of a recent round-trip flight from New York City to Savannah.
But many U.S. travelers have their sights set on Europe, and would strongly prefer to travel comfortably in a business class seat. Nothing beats a lie-flat seat, regular meal service, and a little pampering for a better chance of arriving in a new time zone feeling refreshed and ready to see the sights. Business class air travel, while becoming more popular, doesn’t come cheap, however, and it has gotten even more expensive, thanks to jet fuel surcharges tied to the war in Iran.
Of course, there are always deals to be discovered, and dynamic pricing systems that take into account demand, competition, and browsing proclivities can work in your favor.
CEO of Dollar Flight Club, a travel membership service that finds airfare deals, Jesse Neugarten said, “If you’re seeing [business class fare] under $2,500, that’s a great deal, and you should book.”
Here are the 10 unofficial most affordable business class options for round-trip travel to Europe.
PHOTO: CONDOR
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Condor
Germany’s most popular air carrier started flying with new aircraft in late 2022—for navgeeks, that’s Airbus A330-900neo—with a stated goal from CEO Ralf Teckentrup to provide fliers with the highest level of comfort in a brand new business class cabin (and all other cabins too). Fly from a number of cities in the U.S., such as Boston, Honolulu, and Orlando, in a quiet cabin with spacious seating and tons of overhead bin storage. Direct aisle access for all seats on long-haul flights, while a common feature of business class cabins, is especially nice for the often gentle price, which might be about $2,500 from Boston to Frankfurt, where you can connect to wherever your European travels are taking you.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF AER LINGUS
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Aer Lingus
If your hub is New York City and you don’t mind a connection en route to Dublin, then there may be no sweeter business class deal than the one we recently discovered for some random summer dates: $1,500! Still, the business class seats on Dublin-based Aer Lingus are generally reasonable compared to other airlines such as United, Lufthansa, or American, and as a OneWorld Alliance member, the option may appeal to American Airlines status holders, who can earn points. On A321XLR aircraft, entertainment screens are 18 inches and provide options for up to 90 hours of TV watching.
PHOTO: AIR EUROPA
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Air Europa
This Spain-based carrier often has some smart business class deals on flights from the U.S. to major European cities. From New York to Paris, you might snag a seat for about $1,500, albeit with a stop in Madrid, the airline’s primary hub. And if you book a seat in Air Europa’s economy cabin, you have a chance to bid on an upgrade—you decide how much you’re willing to pay for the gourmet meals and lie-flat seat in the business class cabin, and if your bid is accepted, you’ll be charged and notified hours before take-off.
PHOTO: TAP AIR PORTUGAL
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TAP Portugal
Headquartered in Lisbon, TAP Portugal flies direct from many U.S. cities, including New York City, Boston, Miami, Chicago, DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, to Portugal’s capital, but you can get to many more places in Europe by connecting in Lisbon. Prices to Berlin, Germany, for example, are hovering around $2,200 for dates later this summer. For many travelers, connecting in Lisbon is more appealing than a stopover in London, where taxes can drive the cost of a ticket up. Portuguese wine and food are typically served to business class passengers, and the airline boasts solid soundproofing for a pleasant in-flight experience.
PHOTO: IBERIA
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Iberia
Spain’s flagship carrier is showing some pretty sweet deals for summer travel from New York to Madrid in its business class cabin ($1,879 nonstop flights). It’s one of the airlines that Jimmy Yoon, head of points intelligence at point.Me, an award search and loyalty travel platform for travelers, said it is especially affordable when purchased with points, based on the company’s data assessing the upcoming year of travel. Spanish cuisine is served in the upper-class cabin, as are a selection of Spanish wines. You can also bid for an upgrade or even purchase one at check-in, depending on availability.
PHOTO: JETBLUE
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JetBlue
When JetBlue expanded to Europe a few years ago, it provided another option for business class travelers hoping to avoid the often very high costs of other major U.S. players (looking at you, Delta Air Lines). Starting with service to London, its Mint Class service now takes passengers from the States to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Madrid, with a couple of other cities opening seasonal routes. The airline is proud of its “elevated inflight experience at a down-to-earth fare,” which includes dining from Delicious Hospitality Group, a New York-based group known for popular Manhattan restaurants Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones. Although it really depends on when and where you want to go, a recent search produced round-trip options for about $3,000.
PHOTO: TANYA KEISHA/DREAMSTIME
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Turkish Airlines
Stopping in Istanbul on the way to Athens for some island-hopping in Greece this summer, Turkish Airlines business class travelers can expect to pay a very competitive $2,400 or so based on a recent web search. (Oddly, direct flights to Turkey’s capital from Newark International Airport or John F Kennedy International Airport cost several hundred more, though we are not encouraging skip-lagging, which can actually get you banned from flying.) Lie-flat seats, reputable food service, and warm hospitality contribute to making this affordable option an attractive one as well.
PHOTO: ITA AIRWAYS
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ITA Airways
The airline that replaced Alitalia in 2021 generally offers affordable business class fares direct to Rome (its main connecting hub) and Milan from several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. A recent search on the Italian carrier showed nonstop business class flights from Chicago to Rome for a little over $2,000. High-class Italian cuisine is served during flights, and you can even finish your meal with a limoncello. The airline makes special note of its thoughtful lighting system, which changes throughout the journey as you travel through time zones.
PHOTO: BRITISH AIRWAYS
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British Airways
Once it finally phased out its old business-class configuration, which featured tightly packed seats with alternating forward- and backward-facing rows, British Airways became a real contender in the premium cabin space. Fly from New York’s JFK to London Heathrow for about $2,200 (prices based on a recent search) and leave from Boston for a couple of hundred less. As one of the most established transatlantic carriers — and a partner of American Airlines if you’re working towards status—British Airways is a trusted brand, consistently delivering attentive service and good lounge access at many airports.
PHOTO: FINNAIR
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Finnair
One of the best, affordable options for those traveling from the U.S. to Scandinavia, this Helsinki-based airline’s business class cabins offer sleek Nordic-inspired design and, of course, lie-flat seating—the latter especially welcome during the nine-plus hour nonstop from Dallas to Helsinki (less than $3,000 based on recent June travel dates). Marimekko linens, including a mattress, and an amenity kit are nice touches, as is the food presentation—dishes served on Finnish-designed Iittala chinaware. The cabin class only comes with one free hour of Wi-Fi; however, with such affordable prices to Europe, it’s hardly a deal breaker.
Hyatt's Julienne Smith plans to expand on the company's advantage in all-inclusive resorts
Past acquisitions set up company to grow further in Latin America
https://www.costar.com/article/295087256/hyatts-julienne-smith-plans-to-expand-on-companys-advantage-in-all-inclusive-resorts?
NEW YORK — A lot has changed at Hyatt Hotels Corp. in the seven years between Julienne Smith's tenures with the global hotel brand giant.
Since 2019, Hyatt has made a few large acquisitions, including Playa Hotels & Resorts, Standard International, and Apple Leisure Group.
Smith, who rejoined Hyatt earlier this year as head of Americas growth, said the open properties in the brand's portfolio have nearly doubled since the last time she was with the company.
"Our ability to really super serve that luxury, lifestyle, and now inclusive guest is unparalleled in the business," she said in a video interview with CoStar News Hotels at the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum. "It's pretty exciting what that does, because it creates a halo effect and the opportunity to have high-impact hotels that our consumers are looking for to enjoy vacations and so forth, but then we also have the opportunity to grow in smaller markets where people might be traveling for business."
In addition to its $2.6 billion deal to acquire Playa's 15 all-inclusive properties — and the subsequent sale of 14 of those resorts to Tortuga Resorts for $2 billion while staying on with 50-year management agreements for 13 of them — in 2025, Hyatt launched a joint venture with Grupo Piñero in 2024 that saw its all-inclusive portfolio grow by 30% at the time. Its $2.7 billion deal for Apple Leisure in 2021 made the brand the largest operator of luxury hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean.
As other hotel brands start to stake their claim in the Caribbean and Latin America region and the all-inclusive segment, Hyatt will lean on its established experience and breadth of offerings up and down the chain scale to continue to stand out against its competitors, Smith said.
The experience will "help us with distribution, because there are some markets, and arguably some small countries, that really only cater to the all-inclusive customer," she said. "We have the entire array of offerings from mid-market all the way up to luxury all-inclusive. Our ability to have product, hotels in those markets is now a reality when it wasn't before."
In her new role with the company, Smith is currently focused on where Hyatt is growing and making sure it’s building out its teams in the right regions. Latin America is the next big focus, she said.
"We have a lot of opportunity to grow there," she said.
Ultimate Resort Vacations focuses on all-inclusive resorts in atypical destinations
Commercial hospitality platform sees opportunity in Belize, Turks and Caicos
The Alexandra Resort on Grace Bay Beach is one of Ultimate Resort Vacations' three all-inclusive resorts in Turks and Caicos. (Ultimate Resort Vacations)
https://www.costar.com/article/1635968614/ultimate-resort-vacations-focuses-on-all-inclusive-resorts-in-atypical-destinations
Belize and the Turks and Caicos are both resort havens that are growing in popularity as vacation destinations. However, they are not typically thought of as all-inclusive hot spots in the way Jamaica, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean countries are.
Yet Ultimate Resort Vacations sees opportunities in those destinations and is aiming to make the most of them.
Miriam Niembro, director of marketing and communications for Ultimate Resort Vacations, said the company is owned by Waterloo Investment Holdings, which has another operator in Waterloo Hotel Management in addition to URV. Waterloo Hotel Management oversees the hospitality operations, while URV manages the commercial services platform, including sales, marketing, reservations, revenue management, strategic brand support, and guest experience development across the portfolio. The five Waterloo-owned properties include Ambergris Cay, Alexandra Resort, and Blue Haven in Turks and Caicos, along with Fort George Hotel & Spa and Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection in Belize.
Alaia is not part of the URV services, but it is part of Waterloo Hotel Management’s portfolio. Reef Haven Belize, which would be considered the sixth property, operates with a management contract but is owned by a third-party asset manager. Both Waterloo Hotel Management and URV provide commercial support services to Reef Haven Belize.
Ultimate Resort Vacations saw the potential in Belize and Turks and Caicos “to bring a more elevated and experience-driven all-inclusive concept into destinations that have traditionally leaned more towards boutique independents,” Niembro said.
Today’s traveler “is looking for effortless travel and convenience, but they also want authenticity, personalization and a strong sense of place,” she added.
The all-inclusive model works particularly well in destinations such as Turks and Caicos and Belize, “because guests can enjoy the ease of having dining, activities, wellness and experiences seamlessly integrated into their stay, while still immersing themselves in the destination itself,” Niembro said.
In the case of Reef Haven Belize, there are fewer surrounding tourism hubs and restaurant districts nearby, “so creating a more fully integrated resort experience allows us to provide guests with everything they need in one place — without sacrificing quality, cultural connection or local character,” she said.
Reef Haven Belize is part of Ultimate Resort Vacations' portfolio of all-inclusive resorts. (Ultimate Resort Vacations)
Ultimate Resort Vacations also believes in the long-term growth potential of these growing resort markets, Niembro said. And there's a level of care that goes into making each resort in its portfolio feel unique.
“We never wanted our properties to feel standardized or mass-market,” she said. “Even within the all-inclusive space, each resort maintains its own identity, design style and guest demographic.”
For many travelers, especially families, couples and luxury travelers, the value of convenience and predictability is increasingly important, she said. At the same time, these markets also naturally lend themselves to experiential travel — wellness, marine activities, culinary experiences, cultural immersion and outdoor adventure — which integrates naturally into the all-inclusive model.
“Rather than operating large-scale resorts with hundreds of rooms, we focus on more intimate hospitality experiences with strong individuality across each property,” Niembro said.
For example, Ambergris Cay is a fully all-inclusive private island with one of the longest private runways in the Caribbean, allowing guests to arrive directly onto the island by private jet. The resort offers different ways to stay — from beachfront and newly introduced seaside bungalows to luxury villas all the way up the 11-bedroom Dream Estate villa— creating a level of exclusivity and flexibility, which she said is rarely seen within the all-inclusive space.
Within the Turks and Caicos Collection, Alexandra Resort and Blue Haven offer a “Stay at 1, Play at 2” experience, allowing guests to enjoy two distinct resort environments during one holiday, she said. Both resorts also strongly cater to the family travel market.
Reef Haven Belize takes a more intimate and slow-paced approach centered around wellness, cultural connection, heartfelt hospitality and access to the Belize Barrier Reef, Niembro said. The resort also appeals to multigenerational travelers and families, with children under 11 staying free.
“Our approach is less about volume tourism and more about curated lifestyle experiences that feel personal, immersive and deeply connected to the destination,” Niembro said. URV differentiates itself “by combining independent-property character with the sophistication and commercial discipline typically seen in larger hospitality brands.”
“Our centralized commercial services platform allows us to stay highly proactive and agile across marketing, sales, revenue management, distribution, reservations, public relations, technology and evolving travel trends,” she said. Independent hotels “often do not have access to that level of integrated expertise or resources on their own,” she added.
Ultimate Resort Vacations also benefits from strong operational efficiencies and economies of scale while still maintaining a boutique hospitality mindset.
“That combination allows us to continue expanding strategically while preserving the personality and authenticity of each destination and resort experience,” she said.
Each property is positioned within the upper tier of its respective market, Niembro said, whether luxury private island hospitality, boutique all-inclusive, marina-front resort experiences or urban lifestyle accommodations.
Fort George Hotel & Spa will transition to Marriott's Autograph Collection brand in the fourth quarter of this year.
“It was a natural fit for the Autograph Collection brand given its strong sense of place, heritage, waterfront location, and deep cultural connection to Belize City,” she said.
The Fort George Hotel & Spa is converting to an Autograph Collection by Marriott property this year. The picture is the resort's Treehouse Lounge. (Ultimate Resort Vacations)
As the first branded Marriott hotel in Belize City, Fort George “represents an important milestone for the destination’s evolving hospitality landscape,” Niembro said.
Autograph Collection properties are known for their individuality, which aligned naturally with Fort George’s vision, she said. The guest experience is designed to immerse travelers in Belizean culture through local cuisine, nearby islands and access to major Mayan archaeological sites located less than an hour away.
Unlike the other properties within the broader portfolio, Fort George is not an all-inclusive product, Niembro said. Instead, it blends business and leisure travel “through a more lifestyle-driven hospitality approach,” she said. The property is home to the Lord Ashcroft Conference Centre, accommodating up to 400 attendees. A new tower coming soon will add 64 guestrooms, along with a new main lobby, restaurant and pool.
Reef Haven Belize was previously operated as a Margaritaville property. The transition in late 2025 “focused on creating a more boutique and experience-driven hospitality concept centered around wellness, local culture, personalized service and connection to the destination,“ she said.
That resort's conversion included a move to all-inclusive, and within just a few months of the rebrand, Reef Haven was already outperforming year-over-year results from when it operated under the previous branded model, Niembro said.
URV “is always open to strategic growth opportunities, both within its existing destinations and in new markets that align with our hospitality vision and long-term portfolio strategy,” she said, adding the company's focus is less about rapid expansion “and more about identifying properties and destinations where we can create differentiated guest experiences and add long-term value through strong commercial and operational expertise.”
Niembro said future hotels and resorts the company adds to its portfolio will not necessarily be all-inclusive.
“While all-inclusive hospitality has been a very successful segment for us and is something URV understands well operationally and commercially, the operator is not tied to a single model,” she said.
In addition, the company is open to additional management and commercial partnership opportunities, “where we believe our expertise in on-property hospitality management, branding, marketing, sales, and revenue strategy can help drive long-term growth and positioning.”
She noted that Reef Haven Belize is an example of a property “where we provide commercial services and strategic support to a third-party asset manager ownership structure through both [Waterloo Hotel Management] and URV.”
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