How To Secure First-Class Upgrades Without Paying Full Price?

Travelling by first class on flights is becoming an unattainable luxury. But there are ways to get an upgrade for free if you follow the right tips. Getting an upgrade on the flight means getting a seat that is better than the one assigned to you. You can get seats with extra legroom, a window seat, exit rows, empty rows or bulkhead rows, which provide a more comfortable journey. This blog gives expert tips to get an upgrade on any flight.

You can request an upgrade to first class before the flight departs. You can even request an upgrade during check-in or online. Sometimes you may get an upgrade at the gate if you are lucky. To get an upgrade, you have to pay extra money depending on the route and the airline.

On long-haul international flights, an upgrade to first class means more comfortable seating and exclusive services including superior food and drinks, a dedicated flight attendant, access to airport lounges and more. There are ways to get affordable upgrades on flights.

Expert tips for affordable upgrades

• Keep your flight timings flexible to get the best airfare. If there are multiple flights in a day, then choose the one with the fewest number of people flying. If you have flexible days, then book tickets on the day when the least number of people are likely to fly. The best option is to fly in the middle of the week or too early or too late in the day. Choose the best time to fly for cheaper first-class seats.
• It is free to join an airline’s frequent flyer program, and you should sign up for it. A sign of customer loyalty will get you a higher priority in the mind of the company. Joining the loyalty program of the airline you fly with can give you a status on the airline. When you accumulate the miles and the points, you can reach a status like Silver, Gold or Platinum. You can choose a favourite airline based on how frequently you travel to get the maximum benefits. As you collect more miles and points, you can reach a higher status. Your status can help you get a last-minute upgrade on a flight.
• You can even buy miles directly from the airline through its website to avail the promotions. Sometimes you can get miles at a discounted rate.
• Many airlines also offer credit cards and offer awards to people who invest in them. Many bank credit cards usually have an affiliation with an airline. These credit cards offer significant perks and can help you get a complimentary booking or an upgrade. The perks can help you offset the cost, and you can get cheap flights to your destination.
• Check in online 24 hours before the flight departure and check the seat assigned to you. During this period, the premium seats and seats with extra legroom open up for the general public. Nobody has bought these seats, and at this point, they will not make money from upgrades. These seats are available for grabs. If you have an airline status, then you can check via the airline’s mobile app if such seats are available.
• Once you book your tickets, reach the airport early if you want to upgrade your ticket. Try to reach 1 hour earlier before boarding. There is no need to arrive earlier than that, as the gate attendants will not be servicing your flight. If you arrive later than 1 hour, the other people may take up the good seats.
• While booking, do not book business-class tickets and then upgrade to first-class. Business class tickets can be more expensive and may not be worth the extra cost. You may have to pay a hefty fee for the upgrade.
• You can opt for an easy-up fare option where you buy a premium economy class ticket and use points to get an upgrade to first class.
• Business travellers do not travel on the weekends. First-class tickets usually get cheaper during the weekends as the business travellers are not flying. You should try to get the tickets for Friday or Sunday when the corporate travellers are not aboard.
• If you have got tickets in the front of the plane, then when the door is closing, ask the flight attendant if there are any empty seats available. You can enquire politely and check if you can move up. Engage with the flight attendant earlier during the boarding process to improve your chances of getting an upgrade. Sometimes the gate attendants go out of their way to offer seats when they find that there is a no-show.
• In case you do not have enough miles to be eligible for a free upgrade, then you can buy an upgrade during check-in. Most airlines offer discounted upgrades online within 24 hours of flight departure. You can ask the gate attendant for the cost of any available upgrade, as the cost may be cheaper.
• If there is something wrong with your entertainment system or seat, then let the flight attendant know. You can tell them about the inconvenience you will experience on the flight, and they will usually offer you an upgrade. However, if the flight is full, then you are out of luck.

Conclusion

Getting a cheap upgrade to first class may be difficult, but it is not impossible. By flying on the right day and time, you can get better airfares. Through loyalty programs, you can use your miles and points to get an upgrade. Travellers who check for last-minute upgrades usually get a better deal. An upgrade can offer you a more comfortable journey, especially on long-haul international flights. You should also learn about the airline’s policies to know your chances.