How to get a flight upgrade
Rachel Robson highlights five ways to help you get upgraded to first class!
Rachel Robson highlights five ways to help you get upgraded to first class!
If you’re jetting off on holiday any time soon, you might be hoping to be given an upgrade to first or business class. So if that’s your mission, here are five ways to help you achieve your goal!
Dress correctly
Make sure you look respectable for your flight. This doesn’t mean you have to turn up in a suit and tie, but if you are wearing jeans and a scruffy t-shirt, this isn’t likely to do you any favours.
Use special occasions to your advantage
If you’re off on your honeymoon, or it’s a special birthday, casually drop this into the conversation at the check-in desk. Even if you don’t get an upgrade, you might still get a glass of champagne.
Of course, the downside to this is that if you’re checking in online, there are fewer opportunities to do this.
Join the club
If you join a frequent flyer scheme and regularly collect points or airmiles, you’ll show how loyal you are to the airline. And this may mean you get an upgrade. This is even more likely if you can get the top level of membership.
Check-in at the right time
If you’re checking in at the airport, rather than online, leaving it as late as possible might be the key to an upgrade. If you’re on a busy flight and there are no economy seats left, you may be lucky enough to be moved into business or first class.
Alternatively, you may be asked to wait for a later flight and you’ll then be upgraded as compensation. That said, this strategy can backfire and you may be left with the worst seats on the flight!
Just ask!
Finally, you could of course simply ask for an upgrade. However, if you are going to do this, don’t be demanding and don’t shout it out so that everyone else can hear. Airline staff get tired of people asking for upgrades, so don’t assume that just because you’ve asked, you’ll get what you want.
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Good stuff. I'm not sure i completely agree with the "dress nice" bit. But i guess it can't hurt! My tips here - http://triphunter.co.uk/how-to-get-an-upgrade-to-first-class/
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I hate to say it..but you could always lie! We got an upgrade as we said it was our honeymoon..which is was, but have done the same since and been upgraded to the lap of luxury! Doesn't work everytime but if you're travelling as a couple then why not give it a go.
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I always ask for an upgrade! An upgrade is only offered if the plane is full, leaving it to the last minute to check in gives the best chance of an upgrade. If economy is full they may bump you up to premium (and then those in premium to business and so on) to allow them to sell more economy seats at full price. You can pretty much forget going FIRST if paid for an economy ticket! Maybe premium or business. I have been bumped up to business a few times from premium. Another important thing is how much you paid for your ticket. An economy ticket isn't just an economy ticket. There are different classes of economy ticket depending on when you booked/how much you paid. All my upgrades have been on tickets booked through work which have paid full fare. As far as frequent flyers are concerned, lower membership doesn't make much difference but once you are at the top, some schemes offer automatic upgrades (usually space available upgrades). The advice in this article used to work years ago (dressed nicely, mention a special occasion) but in my experience it has all changed.
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24 August 2010