Aviation expert reveals how to travel in luxury on a short-haul flight... and even get a lie-flat bed

• e-mail

For most travellers faced with a short-haul flight their instinct is to book a budget airline and endure whatever challenges they encounter.

But one savvy traveller believes even for speedy journeys it’s still possible to fly in style, for the price of an economy ticket.

Aviation expert Alex Macheras reveals to MailOnline Travel that it's possible to spend as little as £100 for a short-haul flight but get a business-class experience with a lie-flat bed. Here he reveals all.

Aviation expert Alex Macheras believes even for speedy journeys it’s still possible to fly in style, for the price of an economy ticket

Hopping on a long-haul flight to a short-haul destination - in business class 

Paradoxically on some routes a business class ticket works out cheaper than an economy one, Mr Macheras said.

In Europe when travelling between Spain and Germany, Mr Macheras searches for a luxury option and chooses to fly with a South American airline, Latam, which is heading from Santiago, Chile, to Madrid and then on to Frankfurt.

He explained: ‘You can fly the 787 Dreamliner, business class with a flat bed, and experience a full business class service, including business class meals, in-flight entertainment and more – all between Madrid and Frankfurt for less than £100.

In Europe when travelling between Spain and Germany, Mr Macheras searches for a luxury option and chooses to fly with a South American airline, Latam (formerly LAN), which is heading from Santiago, Chile, to Madrid and then on to Frankfurt

‘It’s bookable via the Lan or Latam website, and sometimes business class is cheaper than economy - who knows why, it’s just something that is quite common on this route.’

Find your throne seat 

Club Europe is BA’s business-class deal for short-haul flights in Europe.

Passengers get comfier seats than those found in economy, better food and drink, and lounge access.

But on some short-haul flights, to some short-haul destinations, BA business class passengers get a very nice surprise – a lie-flat bed.

British Airway's A321 features 'throne' seats that make flying short haul a pleasure, according to Mr Macheras. And it is sometimes used on short-haul flights

That’s because, as Mr Macheras explains, British Airways, sometimes – without advertising it – uses its wider-bodied A321s, normally deployed on mid-haul flights to Beirut, Amman and Moscow, for trips to the likes of Stockholm, Athens, Oslo, Rome and Nice, for operational reasons.

The A321 has a business-class section that’s a definite step-up to that found on BA’s normal short-haul planes.

Alex said: ‘Where you would normally expect to board the plane and see a standard (slightly cramped) seat you are presented, on the A321, with a ‘throne’ – a seat that is also a lie-flat bed, with multiple windows per seat offering the best views and the cabin furnishings one would typically expect on a first-class long haul flight.

‘The seat reclines into a fully lie-flat bed and there is surface space to work on your laptop, dine and watch a movie, all at the same time.’

Alex says that it is possible to work out whether you’ll be flying on an A321 by checking, during the booking process, which aircraft will operate the route.

He said: ‘It'll [your booking screen] display a seating map that shows a “throne seats” alone configuration - rather than the usual 3-3 seat map we are used to on short haul.’

He added that he regularly receives tweets from passengers who’ve seen before they take off that they’ve scored an A321.

But more often than not, you'll never know until the day.

Enjoy a taste of luxury on an all-business Qatar Airways service

The A319 used on Qatar Airways' Dubai to Doha shuttle service only has business-class seats

From January Qatar Airways is re-introducing an all-business class service on its A319 'shuttle' route between Dubai and Doha.

Recently this service became 'charter only', but in the New Year it's back as a regular scheduled offering.

There are no economy seats on this flight, which means that passengers are guaranteed the jet-set lifestyle, if only for a short while. 

Mr Macheras said: ‘It’s essentially a regular short-haul passenger aircraft with nothing but luxury business class seats.

‘It’s like a huge commercial private jet. For the 40 minute flight, you can expect a full Qatar Airways business class service and meal. Then you could even have a "power nap" as each seat becomes a bed.'

If you’re travelling in a group try a private jet

If you're travelling in a group it's worth looking for an empty leg on a private jet service as it can work out cheaper than booking several budget airline tickets, claims Mr Macheras

Mr Macheras and a friend make the most of a private jet flying an empty leg

Gone are the days when only celebrities and dignitaries would charter a private jet.

If you’re travelling in a large group the exclusive experience can be more affordable and accessible than you might realise.

‘Empty legs on private jets are the future of group travel,’ asserted Mr Macheras.

‘Private jet flying should not be dismissed as something purely for the privileged few. It’s much more accessible nowadays through companies selling what is known as "empty legs".

‘A quick search on private jet empty leg service sites show an empty leg for tomorrow, from London to Nice on an eight-seater private jet, at a price of £180 per person. On the same date, Easyjet flights to nearby Nice are charging a minimum of £170 per person for flights on the same date – except that’s with no luggage, no pre-booked seats and it’s on a budget airline, not a private jet.’

He advised: ‘If you’re travelling in a group, empty leg searches should definitely be part of your trip planning.’ 

Mr Macheras lives the high life - by deploying some clever travel hacks

The savvy traveller makes the most of short haul trips by hopping on board aircraft making long haul journeys with several stops. He is pictured here on a private jet