This year I will take over 150 fights. I certainly spend a lot of my life on a plane flying around the world. Being what I’m sure many would class as a frequent flyer, I do get asked by a lot of people how to bag that ever elusive upgrade.
Unfortunately, the days are long gone of getting an upgrade because you’re on your honeymoon, anniversary or because it’s your birthday—so are thousands of other people flying around the world on any given day. Side note: don’t be one of those people that attempts to fake your birthday for an upgrade to check-in staff, when they can obviously see your date of birth on your ID (yes, I’ve actually witnessed this happen).
First class on British Airways that is commonly available for a fraction of the retail price through using Avios points
James Asquith
There may be some friendlier airlines out there (and gate agents that are having a great day perhaps) that would potentially upgrade your economy seat to ‘economy extra’ or something with an extra inch or two of legroom maybe, but in 2019 don’t expect too much more.
Most airlines are pushing to sell every seat on every plane, and modern pricing technology allows many flights to operate near full capacity. Check-in staff don’t have the same power they used to, and upgrading someone to business or first class (particularly on long haul) costs the airlines money. With the better food and wine products on offer from economy translating to an actual cost to the airline, airlines are rarely allowing complementary upgrades to non-frequent flyers.
Emirates First class suite on their A380, complete with sliding doors. These seats are often available on points, and mistake fares can be found too.
James Asquith
You just have to take a few flights from many airports in North America to see the screens at the gates with “upgrade waitlists.” Fewer passengers are paying for that upgrade out of their own pockets and they are expecting their frequent flyer pass (or company) to pay for it. But, here are some ways you can get on that list, or better still, actually pay the cheapest price for the upgrade without just relying on your airline status–which is the same overcrowded trick many other passengers are trying to do.
Frequent Flyer ‘Status’
Yes, those people trying to get a free upgrade are also frequent fliers. You will not get upgraded before them, unless you have superior status. The airlines reward their most loyal customers in a day and age where there is now so much competition. Therefore, get yourself signed up to each of the three major airline alliances: One World, Star Alliance and SkyTeam. With membership to an airline in each of these alliances you can accumulate miles and status when you fly with almost any major (non-budget) airline in the world. This means having status, and if economy is overbooked or they do feel like upgrading a few loyal flyers, you at least stand a chance.
Credit Card Points/Air Miles
Get yourself an upgrade with credit card points. Again, if you really think most of those people flying in First Class suites on long haul flights are paying for it out of their own pockets, you would be very much mistaken. If companies don’t pay for corporate travel, then many others (including myself) are using points accumulated from credit cards. Most credit cards offer incredible welcome bonuses that (particularly in the U.S.) can get you an upgraded ticket after a month.
Bid Before Check-in With The Airline For Less
Check your emails! Now there is no way that I would be paying the published fares that some airlines charge, but when airlines haven’t sold enough seats in business or first they will very often send upgrade bid emails. It’s a free option for the airlines to be able to give the seats to who pays the most, but you would be surprised with how few people enter a low amount “in case.” Lots of airlines have a “minimum bid” so you can’t choose $1 for example, but the starting bid is usually an absolute bargain (if you get it). I’ve very often got upgraded to lie flat seats on Qatar, Emirates and Latam for just a few hundred dollars for long haul flights before. It’s definitely worth looking out for and entering what you’re happy with. After all, you may even end up saving a decent amount of that money on packaged airport food!
Mistake Fares
Look out for mistake fares. Instead of getting upgraded you can actually book those nice lie flat seats with cash for almost the same price as economy if you are flexible with your starting point and sometimes even your date. Instead of booking Dubai to Singapore return recently on Emirates (which was $12,000 in First class), by starting in Colombo nearby (and getting an additional free flight included in First class to position myself there), I got the fare for $1,600 return, for almost 25 hours of flying. That would be a fare some of us have paid for economy, let alone a First Class suite with fully closing doors and with chauffeur driver pick up!
