15 Ways To Get Flight Upgrades (+ 6 Things NEVER To Do)

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Are you dreaming about how to get flight upgrades so you can sit back and relax in the posh cabin with the big comfy flat-bed seats, free champagne and speedy exit? But those luxury seats come with a hefty price tag that few can afford or justify! After all, a first-class ticket can be many times the price of an economy ticket.

If you’ve ever settled into your economy seat and watched someone else get an upgrade, my tried and true tips on how to get flight upgrades are for you.

Luxury flat bed seat in first class cabin on a flight

How to Get Upgraded to Business or First Class

14% of people who completed a MoneySavingExpert.com poll said they had received an upgrade. I’ve used these tips for years and enjoyed plenty of free flight upgrades, so it’s worth a bit of effort to snag one.

It is getting harder to bag a free upgrade. Airlines already charge for everything, and seat allocation is mainly computerised. Extra legroom seats and seats at the front of the economy cabin all come with a premium price tag, so your chances of a 100% free upgrade are shrinking almost as fast as legroom space in economy cabins.

Before You Book

Here’s what you can do to improve your chances of getting an upgrade before you even show up at the airport:

1. Pay with an Air Miles Credit Card

Credit cards are THE game-changer and how travel pros can muscle into the front of the queue for flight upgrades. Air Miles credit cards help you rack up air miles quickly because you earn miles every time you fly, and every time you use your card.

Plus – lots of cards have sign-up bonuses. When you’ve enough miles, simply use them to get free flights, but don’t forget you’ll still have to pay any taxes and fees.

2. Join the Airline’s Loyalty Club

Loyalty counts. The second most important tip is to sign up for a frequent-flyer club membership with the airline you’ll be flying with, even if you don’t travel often or are new to travel. Then remember to use your membership number whenever you book a flight!

You’ll be among the first to be emailed about upgrade opportunities; when check-in agents or flight attendants are looking to offer upgrades, loyal customers are usually first on their list. It pays to be in the club.

Join a frequent flyer club and start earning miles. When airlines are oversold, they will look to upgrade their most loyal passengers first.
Katherine Clark, Regional Business Development Director for TripAdvisor Flights told the Daily Mail

3. Network Like a Ninja

If you have friends/family who work for the airline, work it, baby! Shamelessly beg them to see if they can help with how to get flight upgrades.

Airlines often give employees vouchers for family/friends, and it costs your contact nothing to share the goodies with you.

4. Book the Dreaded Middle Seat

Flight attendants sometimes look to move passengers (especially solo travellers) to allow families to sit together or to make a trip more comfortable for passengers in the less desirable seats.

Booking that middle seat is risky, as you may end up stuck with it, but it’s an excellent strategy to try, particularly on shorter flights. Whenever I’ve been asked to move, I’ve always negotiated a move forward to a better seat rather than accepting a seat further into the plane!

What to do At Check-In

5. Smile and Be Gracious

Be nice to everybody from the moment you walk on airport property. You’re talking to people who are decision-makers.
Former flight attendant Carolyn Paddock, founder of the website Life in Flight, told Bankrate.com

6. Dress Like You Belong in First-class

Aim for a classy, smart-casual look with a few well-chosen accessories that scream “quality”. You could still wear comfortable leggings/pants, but team these up with polished leather ballet flats, a longline top and a structured jacket or cashmere shawl.

A business suit isn’t necessary (not to mention uncomfortable on long flights), but I’ve found it helps if you look smart. A stylish haircut and a statement necklace go a long way too.

7. Ask Politely For An Upgrade

Smile and tell the check-in agent: “If you are upgrading passengers on this flight, I would like to be considered.” Agents deal with lots of grumpy people; they’ll remember you if you’re polite and friendly.

It can make all the difference if you remember your Ps and Qs with a smile on your face
Bob Atkinson, Travel Expert at MoneySupermarket.com

8. Be Early

Your flight may have only one or two upgrades available, so it’s a real case of the early bird getting the worm. Instead of trying to get the agent’s attention while he or she is busy with other passengers, show up early and be the first one to ask for a seat upgrade.

If passengers need to be moved between cabins for operational reasons, the airline will probably know this several hours before the flight. So, if you’re among the first few passengers to check-in, you have a higher chance of being chosen.
James Teideman of Skyscanner told the Daily Mail

What to do At the Gate

9. Travel solo

Every time I’ve been upgraded, I was flying solo. Getting two (or more) passengers travelling together upgraded is very rare.

If you’re travelling with a friend and want to upgrade your flight, book your tickets separately and sit separately at the departure gate, as gate agents often look for solo travellers to upgrade.

Flying by yourself can improve your chances of an upgrade but might not improve your relationship!

10. Travel During Peak Times For Economy Passengers

Aim to avoid business/commuter peak-time flights, particularly “red-eye” flights.

Travel instead when the economy cabin is likely to be full, but business class is not to improve your chance of an upgrade. Think midday and midweek, especially during school holidays.

If you travel when the economy cabin is not full, you’re unlikely to get moved forward.

11. Give Up Your Seat

Airlines always want a full load of passengers, but people with flexible tickets often make last-minute changes/cancellations. To manage this commercially, airlines regularly overbook flights, knowing there will be ‘no-shows’. Sometimes this means there are more passengers than seats available.

If a gate agent asks for volunteers to give up their seats, agree if they will upgrade you on the next flight. I’ve done this several times. You get a fully expensed delay plus a much better trip! You’re in a strong bargaining position if no one else wants to volunteer.

12. Be Late

A riskier strategy is arriving at the boarding gate at the last moment. If you’re a frequent flyer, the economy cabin is overbooked, and other passengers have already boarded, the crew might offer you an upgrade. If you’re a member of the airline’s loyalty programme, your chances of getting upgraded this way are higher.

What to Do on the Plane

13. Check Your Seat

The minute you sit down, check that everything works properly. Check your seatbelt, armrests, footrests, recliner and tray table. If anything doesn’t work, tell a flight attendant immediately. Passengers in broken seats are reassigned (if seats are available), which could mean an upgrade.

14. Fly on a special occasion date

Tell the check-in agent and the flight attendant if you’re celebrating your birthday or anniversary or if you’re on your honeymoon. You’ll probably get a free drink, and you might get an upgrade too.

15. Don’t Be A Fussy Eater

If you’ve ordered a special meal, you’re less likely to get an upgrade because your meal choice(s) might not be available in the higher-class cabin. It’s much easier for flight attendants to upgrade someone uncomplicated. Be uncomplicated.

6 Ways to Kill Your Chances of an Upgrade

Some passenger behaviours are guaranteed to drive airline staff nuts. Don’t do any of the following if you’re hoping to get a flight upgrade!

Share a crappy sob story: Save your time. The crew will have already heard every story under the sun
Turn up without a reservation: You’ll be fast-tracked to the worst seat possible
Be the obnoxious/high-maintenance passenger: Nobody is going to reward a passenger who behaves like an entitled child
Have a drink or three before pitching for the upgrade: Why not wear a badge saying, “I’m not upgrade material”? Same effect…
Pretend to be someone you’re not: Use an honorific if it’s genuine, and enjoy the kudos (Doctor, Judge, Lady, Reverend, etc.). If you’re faking it, don’t forget that the name on your ticket must match your ID!
Loudly demand a new seat because you’re next to a screaming baby or a person of size: Your reward might be a seat reassignment next to the toilet or the flight attendant offering an upgrade to the passenger you disrespected!

So there you have it. I hope you found these 15 ideas for how to get a flight upgrade helpful.

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15 Ways to Get Flight Upgrades (+ 6 Things NEVER To Do)