Recently, airlines have raised coach fares by $5 or $10 per ticket, and the strangest thing is happening: The competition is following, meaning the increases stick. But for those who can afford to fly in the front of the plane, it's a very different story. Our Savvy Traveler, Rudy Maxa, explains.

Coach fares are still a bargain. If you can book ahead or fly between cities served by low-fare carriers, your taxi to the airport may cost more than your airline ticket.

Still, most airlines are slowly raising coach fares, which is a darn good thing for them since most of them are losing money. Chew on this: Delta posted a loss of more than a BILLION dollars in the first QUARTER of this year!

But while coach fares are quietly rising, business class travelers--especially those flying overseas--are bathing in a shower of great deals.

Trans-Atlantic fares that are normally $6,000 round trip began selling for one-third that at the start of the year. Continental, Northwest, American, United, Aer Lingus and others rolled out the deals in hopes of snaring business travelers who will shell out four figures for tickets. Some business fares are still that low now. The trick is knowing how to find them.

Here's how: Look for an airline inaugurating a new route or adding new amenities it wants to promote. For example, in April, British Airways had a sale to trumpet its flatbed seats in business class between Orlando and London. Two thousand bucks instead of $6,000.

Also, book way ahead. Northwest offers deeply discounted seats in the front of the plane on some flights if you're willing to book 50 days in advance. For example, Minneapolis to London, round trip. Travel next week, and it'll cost you $8,200. But book now for August and pay nearly $6,000 less.

This summer, Continental offers deals if you book 30 days in advance and stay over a Saturday night. With its business class prices as low as $775 one way to Europe, you can fly in style for just a few hundred dollars more than coach.

If you can't book far ahead, call a travel agent and ask for what's called a "consolidator ticket." Those are much cheaper than a last-minute ticket purchased directly from an airline.

Now you're probably wondering why business class fares on flights to Europe, Asia and South America are plunging. It's because the airlines have increased the number of international flights because the domestic market is so bad for them right now. More seats, lower fares.

So if you're planning a trip to Europe this summer, don't settle for coach. You may be able to travel in more comfort than you expected.

From St. Paul, I'm Rudy Maxa for Marketplace.

May 03, 2005