What's Happening
15 minutes ago

Booking Enters Historically Strong Trading Window Ahead Of Earnings

benzingabenzinga.com
19 minutes ago

Lyft Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, Gross Bookings Up 15%, New Buyback — 'Our Biggest Competition Is Inertia'

benzingabenzinga.com
23 minutes ago

DoorDash Shares Climb After Solid Q4 Results: Total Orders Grew 19%, GOV Increased 21%

benzingabenzinga.com
28 minutes ago

Super Micro Reports Preliminary Q2 Earnings, Company Expects To File Delayed Reports In Coming Weeks

benzingabenzinga.com
28 minutes ago

Robinhood Q4 Earnings Preview: Can Company Rebound From Q3 Miss? Key Items To Watch

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

$1000 Invested In United States Steel 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

benzingabenzinga.com
35 minutes ago

Upstart Shares Soar After Solid Q4 Report, Strong Q1 Guidance

benzingabenzinga.com
43 minutes ago

Interactive Strength Shares Are Trading Lower Today: What's Going On?

benzingabenzinga.com
55 minutes ago

12 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

benzingabenzinga.com
55 minutes ago

12 Health Care Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

benzingabenzinga.com
55 minutes ago

12 Industrials Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

benzingabenzinga.com
55 minutes ago

12 Information Technology Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

benzingabenzinga.com
60 minutes ago

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On Fluence Energy Through 12 Analysts

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

The Analyst Verdict: Praxis Precision Medicine In The Eyes Of 4 Experts

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

Analyst Expectations For Allstate's Future

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

What Analysts Are Saying About ZoomInfo Technologies Stock

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

Ukraine Floats Land Swap With Russia As Trump Signals Peace Push

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

Baker Hughes Stock: A Deep Dive Into Analyst Perspectives (18 Ratings)

benzingabenzinga.com
1 hour ago

Why Intel Stock Is Soaring Today

foolfool.com
1 hour ago

A Closer Look at Delta Air Lines's Options Market Dynamics

benzingabenzinga.com

The Hidden Downside of Always Flying Business Class

Two well-dressed people boarding a private plane on the tarmac.

Image source: Getty Images

I flew business class for the first time about six years ago, and I was immediately hooked. A seat that turned into a bed? A delicious meal with a glass or wine or a cocktail? My first thought was, “This is how I always want to fly.”

And that’s what I’ve done. I don’t mind spending money on travel, so flying business class is worth it to me. I’ve also used travel credit cards to cover the cost of some airfare in miles instead of cash.

Most people would probably assume there aren’t any drawbacks to always flying business class, besides the higher cost. But there’s actually a potential downside that isn’t discussed often.

Your travel standards go way, way up

A single flight in business class might not change the way you look at travel. It’s nice, but you can look at it as a one-time thing, or a way to treat yourself on special occasions. On the other hand, if you always fly in business class, it’s probably going to raise your travel standards.

You get used to a certain level of service and luxury. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does have consequences. For one, it becomes normal for you. It’s hard to go back to economy once you’ve gotten used to those amazing business-class perks.

It doesn’t just raise your standards for air travel, either. When you treat yourself to nice flights, it’s tempting to want the same with your accommodations. No more hostels, questionable Airbnbs, or budget hotels. If you’re going to get to your destination in style, shouldn’t you stay in a nice hotel, too? You may find yourself wanting the five-star experience every step of the way, and that can get expensive.

Luckily, there’s a way to make it much less expensive. I pay for most of my luxury travel expenses, including business-class airfare and upscale hotel stays, in credit card points instead of cash. If you want to upgrade your travels without spending a fortune, click here to see our list of the best travel rewards cards and open one today.

Embrace the change — or don’t

There’s nothing wrong with having high standards when you travel. Many people go from budget travel as young adults to more expensive trips as they get older. If you want to fly business class for every trip and stay in premium hotels, you shouldn’t feel bad about it. Everyone has their priorities for how they spend their money.

You should, however, be ready for the costs involved. It’s not worth going into debt just so you can travel in luxury. Here are a few ways to finance those business-class flights, fancy hotel stays, and meals at Michelin star restaurants:

  • Make a travel fund and contribute to it every month. By making travel one of your savings priorities, you’ll always have money to pay for your trips. If you set aside $500 per month, that’s $6,000 to spend on a yearly vacation.
  • Cut back on other expenses so you have more money for travel. If travel is a priority for you, that may mean spending less on other, less important expenses. For example, I haven’t owned a car for years. I’d rather have money for travel than an expensive car payment.
  • Get a travel credit card and use it for all your spending. These credit cards can be a big money saver for anyone who loves to travel. Some of them also have premium travel perks, such as free access to airport lounges.
  • Look for ways to maximize your income. The easiest way to increase your travel budget is to increase your income. Be proactive about working for raises or promotions, or consider starting a side business to earn more.

You may also discover that you’re fine with any type of trip. Some travelers don’t care about all the bells and whistles. There’s no right or wrong way to travel. Just know that if you start making higher-end travel a regular part of your life, it can be hard to go back.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Related Posts

Image source: Getty Images The best credit cards have a lot of perks — cash back, travel rewards, purchase protection, and more. But what happens

Social Security benefits for spouses are a common source of confusion. MassMutual reports that 25% of surveyed adults near retirement age were unaware that spouses

Image source: Getty Images Most people pay their credit card bill once a month, but you’re allowed to pay more frequently. Technically you can pay

The latest cover of Time magazine shows Elon Musk sitting at the historic Resolute Desk in the Oval Office with the U.S. flag and the