Flying business class is a dream for many travelers — with access to exclusive lounges, better meals and drinks, and premium amenities, it’s definitely an experience worth trying at least once!

If you’ve been saving up miles like I have, it’s time to put them to good use! Right now, I have miles with both American Airlines and United Airlines. For my upcoming trip, I’ll be flying out with American and returning with United.

Today, I’ll use American Airlines as an example, but the method is pretty much the same for United too — so definitely give it a try!

Here’s the trick:

If your departure date is flexible and you wait until closer to your travel date, you can often snag a business class ticket for fewer miles. When seats are still available close to departure, airlines tend to release them at lower mileage rates.

Here’s how to do it:

• Go to the American Airlines website and search for award tickets.

• If your dates are flexible, use the calendar view — it makes it super easy to spot the best deals.

• You can also filter by class, so make sure to select “Business Class” to see availability. As of today (April 26th), there are some great deals available through the first week of May!

Of course, availability and mileage requirements can vary depending on your route and travel dates. Always double-check the options, as some routes might have more seats open than others.

In fact, on some days, economy class tickets are priced over 60,000 miles and some business class seats are marked as high as 450,000 miles! — so if you can get a business class ticket for around 60,000 miles, that’s an amazing deal.

Finding the right timing and staying flexible with your travel plans can help you maximize the value of your miles — and fly in style without paying cash!

Happy travels! ✈️✨