Subscribe to ListverseTop 10 Flight Upgrade Tips
- Published October 9, 2007 - 19 Comments
Traveling by air can be a very uncomfortable experience if you have to travel in economy class. Unfortunately, however, the difference in cost between economy and first class can be in the thousands of dollars. In order to have a more comfortable journey, you can try to get a free upgrade to first class. Quite often this does not happen, but sometimes it does; often enough to warrant trying out this list of ten tips for getting a free flight upgrade. If you have any tips or upgrade experiences of your own, be sure to tell us all via the comments.
10. Travel Alone
While this is not always possible, your chances of getting an upgrade are much higher if you are traveling alone. If you are traveling as part of a group – even if it just a small family – the airline is not likely to upgrade you because it means upgrading everyone.
9. Take Advantage of Special Events
If you have just recently been married, or are having a birthday or other celebration, be sure to tell the airline staff. They may be willing to upgrade you to make your event more special. Take a Wedding Certificate with you if needs be.
8. Book a Full Plane
If you can, try to book yourself on to a flight that is going to have a very full economy section – this is much easier during holidays than other times of the year. You can figure out the numbers by going through a false booking on your airline’s website (make sure you don’t book by mistake!) The reason for this is that if the economy class is full, the airline is more likely to try to squeeze passengers in to first class rather than turn them away. In some cases, however, if they can’t upgrade, they might offer travel at a later date with an upgrade or an overnight stay in a nice hotel for free. The more flexible you are, the better.
7. Be Sneaky
When you are booking your flight through a travel agent, be extremely friendly to them. If they like you, they may be willing to mark you as a CIP (Commercially Important Passenger) or SFU (Suitable for Upgrade). The airline can ignore this information, but it is worth a try – the more effort you put in to getting your upgrade, the greater your chances.
6. Pick your Plane
If it is possible, you should try to pick a flight that will be using a plane with a large first class cabin. There are many sites on the internet that let you see the layout of different planes and the configurations that the various airlines use. Take advantage of these. Not only are these sites useful for finding a good “upgrade” plane, but you can also pick the best seats in economy in case you don’t get upgraded. I would strongly recommend using Seat Guru – I have used this site on virtually every flight I have taken since I discovered it – it is an excellent resource for travelers.
5. Avoid Business Hours
Try to fly outside of business hours as the first class cabin is likely to be full on these flights. Try flying at odd hours of the day and on the weekends.
4. Be Polite
Be very polite to all of the staff you are dealing with at the airline. Quite often the decision about upgrades is left to the check-in staff. If they don’t like you, you won’t get upgraded. Smile when talking to the staff but don’t be so overly friendly that you frighten the staff.
3. Dress the Part
Dress like you are a first class passenger. You don’t have to go overboard by wearing a suit and tie, but do not wear tattered jeans, dirty shoes, a tee-shirt with Che Guevara on the front, or any other obviously “non-first-class” clothing. Also, because of the unfortunate situation with terrorism at the moment, you should probably be clean shaven.
2. Join the Frequent Flier Program
By joining the frequent flier program of your airline, you are showing loyalty to the airline. In addition, you get the obvious benefits of being a member such as free flights if you earn enough points. If your airline have different levels of membership, buy the most expensive one you are able to afford – unfortunately money talks, but the extra cost of the program may be well worth the improved comfort on future flights.
1. Ask
A lot of people tell you not to do this, for a variety of reasons, but in my own experience, this can work. I have been given upgrades twice in the last year for asking if the airline needed volunteers. If you have followed all of the previous rules, you have a very good chance of getting the upgrade if there are seats available. Incidentally, ask very quietly – if other customers hear you get an upgrade they will ask as well – so the airline is less likely to give you one if you broadcast your request.
Images from Singapore Airlines.
October 9th, 2007 at 3:31 am
maybe ten tips to getting up in the morning?
October 9th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Although it isn’t about upgrades, here’s a tip some might not know- if you are willing to be bumped from a full flight and go standby at a later time, some airlines will give you a round trip ticket to anywhere they fly. Sometimes they will even give you food vouchers for the airport or put you up in a hotel if the next available flight isn’t until the next day My parents are always willing to bump on Alaska Airlines, and have received numerous free tickets from them for doing so. Too bad I have a toddler, or I would do it in a heart beat!
October 9th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
i never would have believed asking would work
October 9th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I will never forget the flight from Jo’burg to Athens on Christmas Eve, circa 1987: I had the whole plane to myself; no joke, a 747 all to myself; I was the sole traveler on that one flight…
October 9th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
My dad and I were visiting Dubai once when I was younger and got bumped up to first class on Emirates. Heaven for a thirteen year old. Emirates has some of the best service in the airline industry, right up there with Cathay Pacific and Singapore. Hmm… list idea? top 10 airlines?
October 9th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
I guess I could call dibs on it for the contest, but I’ll let someone else take this one. I’ve got some better ideas. Are we allowed to choose the color of the ipod?
October 9th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
WatAbout: great idea for a list. You can choose the color of the Shuffle if you win second prize – the first prize only comes in silver.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I love SEX in the Airplanes!!!!!!
February 17th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
the best has to be quatar…free condoms!!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 10:10 am
If you know a Airline employee you can recive upgrades from them
August 26th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Ah. I wish I needed this info. Alas, I cannot afford to go anywhere.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I’ve managed to be upgraded from economy to 1st class at least 6 times on airlines such as Air France, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic by dressing smartly, ie. in black, and asking very nicely at check-in. As stated; it NEVER hurts to ask and paying $500 round-trip for First Class travel just can’t be beat!
Saying that, it definitely is getting harder for this to happen and air travel is becoming more and more dreary. I’m resorting to the banana boat way pretty soon…
February 9th, 2009 at 5:05 am
I worked for an airline for many many years. It is seldom that check in staff can upgrade without contacting the service desk. The service desk handles mainly stand-bys and staff travel and CIPs and VIPs. It’s usually located near the airlines VIP lounge. They are the best people to talk to.
April 10th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
“Accidentally” flashing my federal officer badge works 9/10 times for me :p
July 27th, 2009 at 7:32 am
This is rather sneaky, but i discovered it by accident. This was in 1998 though, so who knows if it will work now. My father and I atteded a funeral, and on the way back we had to bring a wheelchair given to us for my mother. Well I was tired walking through the parking lot, so i sat in the chair and my father pushed me into the terminal. As soon as we checked in, we immediately got an upgrade to first class (from dirt cheap coach) because of it! No one ever asked what my disability was or asked to see any paperwork. In fact, when I offered to get out of the chair for the metal detector, I was told NO. We got wonderful treatment and i even got tagged in case I “got lost” from my father. I was 13! Very funny story, especially since I never meant to make anyone think I was disabled, I just had tired legs!
August 5th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I really enjoy flying, but I don’t do it enough. Next time I go on a airplaine, I’ll try and use some of these tips.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
If you’re military, wear your uniform. Has never failed for me on a commercial flight.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Ersatz, with all due respect, I would say do not wear your uni or anything that identifies you as a member of the Armed Forces unless specifically OK’d be your commander. I am always told by TMO to travel as a civilian soas to avoid any undue attention especially on overseas com flights.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am
Some of these tips are a bit dubious. My 2c worth:
More than half of my free upgrades have been with a partner. Join a mileage programme and stick with it, and earn at least the next level of membership for more recognition. Get to know your travel agent and get to know the passenger load level on your flight: ultimately, being tidily dressed, a frequent flier, and on a full plane with an economy waiting list and some spare business seats is the best bet. Agent notes are generally ignored. You can try asking, but you’re more likely to be put at the back of the plane by the toilets next to the 300lb man with flatulence than you are to be upgraded: it’s your call! Airlines have a hierachy of passengers who can be upgraded: frequent fliers and those who’ve paid full fare are the first cabs off the rank.