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A large number of major carriers offer transatlantic services between North America and Europe. To attract higher revenues from premium customers, they are competing to provide the best business class services. These include lie-flat seating and better service onboard, which is particularly important if you are flying on a red-eye service and need to be productive when you touch down. On the ground, you’ll also be able to access exclusive lounges.
Booking business class from the start isn’t the only way to access such products. You can also upgrade closer to your flight time, potentially accessing last-minute deals and using up any of your loyalty points that are expiring. Discover below what you might need to pay for some of the major carriers offering transatlantic services between Europe and North America. Please note that the cost of upgrading to business class will vary significantly depending on whether you are able to access a last minute deal, the class of travel that you are upgrading from, the length of the route you are flying, and any loyalty points that you have available. Furthermore, upgrades may not be available if business class has sold out on your flight.
United Airlines Business Class Upgrade
Passengers can use miles or money to pay for a range of types of class upgrades when flying with United, including to the carrier’s well-respected Polaris, which is the equivalent of business class. “Use this type of upgrade to buy United Premium Plus, United First, or United Polaris business class seats, from the time you get your ticket until check-in,” writes United. Simple Flying’s Aaron Spray reports that premium economy to Polaris upgrades will usually be in excess of $1,000. For popular routes like London to New York, you can expect to pay at least $1,400, with prices sometimes exceeding $2,800. As you can expect, upgrades during the peak season are much higher, potentially reaching $8,000 in some cases.
United’s business class is a consistent offering across its transatlantic widebody fleet, featured on jets like the 767-300ER, 777-200ER, and 787-8. You won’t be able to upgrade to Polaris on 777Xs, as United and all other US airlines don’t have any orders for this jet.
Alongside the inflight perks, passengers can also enjoy a fantastic on-the-ground product with United Polaris Lounges and United Clubs. Passengers can enjoy spa-like shower facilities, premium pre-flight spaces, and more. You can find Polaris lounges at six of its hubs. Find them at Chicago O’Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles.
Upgrading To Mint With Jet Blue
JetBlue’s business class equivalent is known as Mint. Upgrading to a Mint Studio will cost over $1,000. If you are a TrueBlue member, you can also use the Move to Mint Certificate, which will cost you 50 tiles. One tile is equivalent to $100 spent on JetBlue flights, JetBlue vacations, and Paisly bookings or $1,000 spent on any JetBlue credit card. Alternatively, you can access an upgrade by reaching Mosaic Level Three for a great degree of loyalty to the airline, at which point you will accrue four Mint certificates.
JetBlue Mint has received acclaim from both industry and passenger groups. J.D. Power 2025 North America Airline Satisfaction Study ranked JetBlue’s Mint class as the best first/business class cabin in the region. The class was first installed on the carrier’s A321-200s, with the carrier currently operating 35 of these aircraft with the original mint seats: Thompson Vantage. A second generation of the Mint product uses Thompson VantageSOLO seats, which debuted on the carrier’s A321neo. The carrier currently operates 10 A321neos and 11 A321LRs with the updated Mint suites.
Alongside the upgraded seats, the latest Mint suites also feature lie-flat seating, direct aisle access, and comprehensive privacy doors. JetBlue configures its Mint class in a 1-1 herringbone format. The new layout also makes it easier to enjoy the views out of the window.
How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade To JetBlue Mint Studio?
The price for the best in the business.
British Airways’ Club World Upgrade
British Airways is another major transatlantic carrier that allows you to use money or miles to pay for your business class upgrade. Going from World Traveller Plus (premium economy) to business class will cost $800 to $2,000. Upgrading from World Traveller (economy) will almost always be more expensive, at $1,000 to $3,000. You can expect a one-way upgrade to cost 24,000 to 30,000 Avios to move from premium economy to business class. However, with British Airways, only a select number of business class seats are available through Avios, so just because a business class seat is available does not mean you will be able to upgrade to it.
Upgrading to Club World gives you access to lie-flat seating, impressive IFE screens, and improved airport amenities. Club World has now been broken into two products. Club World remains the name for the legacy business, including traditional business class lie-flat seating but lacking privacy doors. Club Suites is the name given to British Airways’ business class seats that have a door. That creates a fully enclosed suite, making for a far more private experience. Club Suites also has 40% more storage space and all seats face forward, rather than the “yin-yang” approach of the legacy business class. Although the onboard product is strong, be aware of additional surcharges that could further increase the cost of your upgrade. For example, you can connect to the WiFi for free for messaging, but you will need to pay extra for full access.
The table below compiles the British Airways planes that are equipped with Club Suites, along with the two widebodies that are not:
|
Aircraft |
Total with Club Suites |
Total in Fleet |
|---|---|---|
|
A350-1000 |
18 |
18 |
|
A380-800 |
None |
12 |
|
777-200ER |
30 |
43 |
|
777-300ER |
15 |
16 |
|
787-8 |
8 |
12 |
|
787-9 |
None |
18 |
|
787-10 |
12 |
12 |
As with United, British Airways has fantastic lounges to improve your on-the-ground experience. The carrier has its main business class lounge at London Heathrow, alongside a dedicated arrivals lounge in Terminal 5. British Airways also has 20 non-UK airport lounges. In these lounges, make use of the à la carte menu and extensive drinks options so that you are well-fed and refreshed before your flight. British Airways lounges are also known for their space and calm atmosphere, making them great spaces to get some work done.
Bid For An Upgrade With Virgin Atlantic
Even more variation is introduced to the matter of business class upgrades by Virgin Atlantic’s ‘bid for upgrade’. “Name your price – we might just say yes,” says Virgin Atlantic, and those making strong bids “could very well score a swanky new seat.” The bidding window opens between two and seven days before your flight. The process is risk-free, as you only need to pay if you make a successful bid, although there are no refunds if you are successful. You can usually expect to save by purchasing an upgrade or business class seat directly, although you will never be guaranteed a successful upgrade. Furthermore, you can only bid for the class above what you have already paid for. Economy passengers can only bid for premium economy.
Virgin Atlantic’s business class product is called Upper Class. It is best known for its social spaces. For example, A350 passengers can use The Booth, a cozy corner ideal for couples who want to share a meal or a bottle of wine. Meanwhile, the A330 and the 787 have The Bar, which is exactly what it sounds like. Finally, A330neo and A350 passengers can access the Loft, which is closer to a coffee shop.
Like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic has its main upper-class lounge at London Heathrow Airport. The Clubhouse is located in Terminal Three within the Upper Class Wing. Virgin Atlantic offers a holistic premium service, with expedited check-in and security lanes, exclusive to Upper Class passengers. Alongside the usual bar, dining, working, and shower facilities, The Clubhouse has some unique features. Examples include a fitness area stocked with Peloton bikes, a pool table, and a large children’s playground. The latter means that passengers without children won’t have to worry about little ones running around.
How Virgin Atlantic’s Bid For Upgrade Works
Virgin Atlantic allows passengers the opportunity to upgrade for a lower fee by placing a bid.
How Much Should You Pay For An Upgrade To Transatlantic Business Class
There will always be a different answer to how much your business class upgrade will cost, depending on a number of factors. Yet, you should have a set answer for how much you are prepared to pay, and at what point you resign yourself to accepting the discomforts of economy class. Otherwise, you will be cutting a big hole in your hard-earned vacation budget.
A ‘cost-per-hour’ rule is a good place to start, with frequent fliers considering a deal exceptional if the upgrade costs $75-$100 per hour of flight time. You should also be aware of the additional costs incurred if you try to upgrade from standard economy to business class. This can be 150 – 200% more expensive than upgrading from premium economy.
