How do I get free upgrades on airline seats?
tatrd asked:
I travel about once a year and always fly coach, but I was wondering how to go about getting a business or first class upgrade without paying the difference? Is there a sure-fire technique to this?
Create a video blog…instantly.
I travel about once a year and always fly coach, but I was wondering how to go about getting a business or first class upgrade without paying the difference? Is there a sure-fire technique to this?
Create a video blog…instantly.
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
soz i have no idea
Caffeinated Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
Join the airline’s frequent flyer program and fly a whole lot. I rack up anywhere from 60K to 140K miles a year on various airlines, and have been doing this for years. Plus, I buy tickets last minute and pay full price since I generally don’t know where I’m going until a couple days before I leave. I get upgraded to first class about 80% of the time.
Unfortunately for you, there are a lot of people like me, and we get upgraded first, so there’s not much chance leftover for someone who doesn’t fly much to get upgraded.
airline travel
first you need to apply for the frequent flyer card on the airline you always use for travel then the points you accumulate becomes your chance to convert it into an upgrade
Create a video blog…instantly.
become involved with frequent flyer program with your airline and always accept a bump if they offer. Some airlines will overbook on purpose expecting someone to no show. if everyone show up then they have to ask someone to bump or wait for the next flight. Can be inconvenient but you can also get free tickets and bumped to first class a lot of the times.
Caffeinated Content
Flying only once a year is going to make it pretty difficult to get free upgrades. Plus, it will take a long time to collect enough points to get the upgraded seats. But this would be an option. As someone else said you could also get bumped from the overbooked seats (you have to volunteer for this) Many times they are in a bad situation and will upgrade you to first for being so helpful.
Here is what you could try. When you get to the airport, talk to the person at the front desk where you board the plane. Ask them if they could upgrade your seat for you if the flight isn’t full. Sometimes they will do this for you, sometimes they will offer it for only $50 more. It is especially helpful if you are celebrating something like a Wedding, Anniversary, etc.
The other thing you could try is once you get on the plane. If you see some first class seats are empty, you could ask the flight attendant if you could move up, this is usually the most likely way for them to let you move seats.
Just remember, sometimes it is really hard to get the upgrade. As the others said, they will usually upgrade frequent fliers first. Plus, they often won’t let anyone move up because the people in first class have paid the additonal money to sit there, so they will keep the seat emepty. It all just depends on the day and the mood of the person you ask. Most times they will ask the person to see if it is okay. One other thing, just because the seat is empty, it doesn’t mean that it is open for you to move up. A lot of times people in first class will buy two seats so they have more room.
Hope this helps!