A first-class ticket can cost five or ten times an economy fare, which puts it out of reach for most travellers. Yet the first-class cabin is rarely full of people who paid full price. Many of them used miles, upgraded at the right moment, or booked through a route that made the fare far cheaper. With planning and flexibility, you can sit in that cabin too, without paying the price printed on the airline's website. This guide covers the three methods that work best, booking with miles, upgrading at the right moment, and choosing routes and times that cost less.

Book With Miles, Not Cash

The single best way to fly first class for less is to use frequent flyer miles. Airlines price award tickets by zone and cabin, not by the cash fare, so a first-class award can cost a fraction of the cash price on the same flight. The trick is earning the miles: sign-up bonuses from travel credit cards, everyday spending on the right card, and shopping portals all add up faster than flying alone.

Search for award seats early, because first-class awards are limited and the best ones disappear months ahead. Be flexible with dates and consider nearby airports, since moving your departure by a day or flying from a different city can open up availability. Partner airlines often have better award availability than the airline operating the flight, so check the same route through different frequent flyer programmes before you book.

Upgrade at the Right Moment

If you already hold an economy or business ticket, an upgrade can be the cheapest path to first class. Airlines often sell discounted upgrades at check-in or at the gate, especially when the cabin has empty seats close to departure. A cash upgrade offered 24 hours before the flight is frequently much cheaper than the fare difference you would pay when booking, because the airline would rather sell the seat at a discount than fly it empty.

Loyalty status helps here: elite members are upgraded free when seats are available, and even mid-tier status puts you ahead of other passengers. If you fly one airline regularly, concentrate your travel there to build status faster. When an upgrade offer appears, compare it with the price of a business or first-class award on the same flight, and take whichever is cheaper.

Choose Routes and Times That Cost Less

First-class fares vary enormously by route and by day. Flying midweek, avoiding holidays and school breaks, and choosing less popular departure times can cut the price sharply. Some routes are also far cheaper in first class than others: a long-haul flight between two hub cities with heavy competition often costs less than a short flight on a route with only one airline.

Consider positioning flights, where you fly cheaply to a city with low first-class fares and start your long-haul journey there. Travellers do this from London to cities in continental Europe, or from the US east coast to the Caribbean, saving thousands on the main ticket. It adds a travel day, but the saving can be large enough to pay for a hotel and still leave money over.

First class is not only for people who pay full price. Earn miles, watch for upgrade offers, and pick your route and dates with care. The seat is the same whichever way you paid for it, and the view from the front of the plane is considerably better. Start earning miles now, even if your next first-class flight is a year away, because the miles you collect today are the seat you sit in tomorrow.