Airlines are cutting prices in business class – to more places and on more flights than ever. And, while the business-class-only carriers might look on ruefully – Maxjet and Eos have gone bust and Silverjet is in receivership – it’s good news for those looking to treat themselves.

Now, for example, you can fly with British Airways in business class, including all taxes and fees, to New York from £1,099 return and to Hong Kong from £1,999 return (the full-fare economy prices are £1,034 and £1,704).

Traditionally, summer is when high-flyers stop flitting across the globe, leaving the airlines with lots of big, comfy business-class seats to fill. This year, on top of that, carriers are being buffeted by the multiple whammy of soaring fuel prices, plummeting demand and increased competition – especially across the North Atlantic, as the Open Skies Agreement allows any airline to fly from Heathrow to the USA. And they’re struggling.

Here’s how to make the most of the business-class offers.

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THE DEALS

BA has cut fares to 56 of its long-haul destinations by up to 40%. That means Gatwick to the Caribbean from £1,299 return (including taxes and fees), Heathrow to India from £1,299, and China and Brazil from £1,999. Book by June 24 for travel up to December 31 (although some fares are for July and August departures only, and the journey must include a Saturday night away) at www.ba.com/clubholiday or on 0844 493 0787.

Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com) has also cut fares: Dubai returns start at £1,397, with Mumbai from £1,239. BMI (www.flybmi.com) also has good deals, with business-class returns from Heathrow to Tel Aviv or Cairo starting at about £750.

CHOOSE A LESS WELL-KNOWN AIRLINE

Some airlines don’t have a huge profile in the UK. These include the Taiwanese carrier Eva Air (www.evaair.com), which flies nonstop from Heathrow to Bangkok, with fares from £1,610 in business, through Ebookers.com. Or there’s Kuwait Airways (www.kuwaitairways.com), which flies nonstop from Heathrow to New York, with business returns starting at £919, through Flight Centre (0870 499 0040, www.flightcentre.co.uk). And, while you’ve probably heard of Air India (www.airindia.com), you might not be aware that it flies nonstop from Heathrow to Chicago. Return fares start at £1,414, through Opodo (www.opodo.co.uk).

CHANGE PLANES

Change at a European hub and you can make big savings. This is an especially good option if you’re flying from a regional airport, as you can avoid Heathrow. Air France (www.airfrance.co.uk) flies from a host of UK airports and has returns to Rio from £1,944 and Dubai from £1,230, both via Paris. Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.co.uk) flies from five UK airports and has Dubai from £1,409 and New York from £1,185, both via Munich or Frankfurt. Icelandair (www.icelandair.co.uk) bridges the gap between the UK and North America with its efficient little airport in Reykjavik – returns start at £1,100, from Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow to New York, Orlando, Toronto and others.

Royal Brunei (www.bruneiair.com) flies to Perth and Brisbane via Brunei, with fares from about £2,300, through Ebookers – BA’s cheapest is £3,748. China Eastern (www.flychinaeastern.com) has returns to Sydney, via Shanghai, for just £2,035, compared with BA’s £3,514, through Trailfinders (0845 058 5858, www.trailfinders.com). Air Namibia (www.airnamibia.com.na) has fares to Cape Town, via Windhoek, from £1,255, as against BA’s £2,886, through Flight Centre (0870 499 0040, www.flightcentre.co.uk).

Other travel agents to try include Skyclub.com (020 7255 0700, www.skyclub.com), Wayte (01782 412431, www.waytetravel.co.uk) and Dial A Flight (0870 333 4488, www.dialaflight.com).

Finally, keep an eye out for individual airline promotions. Thai Airways (www.thaiair.com) has a deal that lets you pay for an upgrade on the day, subject to availability, from £390pp per flight, regardless of the type of economy ticket purchased.

FREQUENT-FLYER CLUBS

These are very much worth joining – most of the airlines’ frequent-flyer clubs will let you exchange points for an upgrade. On Virgin Atlantic, for example, you’ll need 10,000 points to upgrade from economy to premium economy and 20,000 to switch from premium economy to Upper Class. Cathay Pacific has a one-way upgrade from economy to business from Heathrow to Hong Kong for 40,000 points.

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