The image of flying first class is one of comfort, privacy, and luxurious leg room. Unfortunately, the average passenger’s price range more often involves the sound of crying babies than the soft clink of champagne glasses.
Flyers with elite airline statuses or airline-specific credit cards can upgrade to first class with no problem. But what about the rest of us? Even if you purchase an economy ticket, there are some realistic tips and tricks to scoring a first-class upgrade without paying full price. Here are the best ways to increase your odds of upgrading to first class for the cost of your economy ticket.
Book economy first, upgrade second
Our number one tip is to buy cheap and then upgrade from there. Don’t buy your first class ticket outright. It’s more cost-effective to first buy an economy ticket and then upgrade. You can do so immediately after booking, or you can risk waiting for cheaper upgrade options at the last minute (more on that below).
Redeeming miles and points is the cheapest way to secure an upgrade, but this requires you to have previously accrued all those miles and points. We’ll reiterate the advantages of airline loyalty below, but for now, let’s assume that you haven’t yet accumulated those perks.
Risk a last-minute upgrade
Shocker: Airlines want to make as much money as possible. If they have open first class seats, they’ll try to sell you that upgrade—likely at a discounted price compared to what it would have been when you first booked your seat.
Naturally, the risk of waiting for the last-minute discount is the fact that there may be no upgrades available. But if you’re willing to gamble remaining in economy class, then the last-minute upgrade will be the cheapest route to take. High risk, high reward.
Try your hand at bidding
While not available on all major airlines, some offer a bidding system for first class upgrades. This bidding is like a blind auction, meaning you name your price for an upgrade and then hope it’s the best offer compared to your fellow passengers. Of course, if you win, you have to be ready to pay that price. If your upcoming flight has a bidding option, check out the Points Guy’s guide to bidding for a flight upgrade.
Be flexible with travel plans
My travels are constantly messed up, whether it’s due to weather, technical troubles, or airlines overbooking their flights. To appease passengers (or tempt them to give up seats), airlines often offer upgrades for flights at different times or heading to different airports. If you can afford to alter your itinerary, take advantage of their offer and request a discounted or free upgrade on the new flight. When you do so, make it clear that you (respectfully) expect an upgrade. You could say something like, “I can afford to give up my seat on this flight, if it’s possible for me to secure a first class seat on [the next] flight.”
Research different flight itineraries
Don’t count on your airline overbooking your flight. During your original booking, look into flying in and out of different airports at different times. Flying off-season or mid-week at smaller airports could mean cheaper flights. Plus, the fewer seats are booked on the flight, the greater chance of you securing an upgrade (especially one of those last-minute ones).
Start earning points now
If you really want to get premium seats for the best prices, you’ll want to pick an airline you like and sign up for their rewards program. Miles, points, and elite statuses will lead to special treatment down the line. For instance, American AAdvantage Executive Platinum members receive complimentary domestic upgrades, and all Delta Medallion elite members qualify for complimentary upgrades (granted in order of elite status level). Invest in those rewards by signing up now.
Avoid scams
Setting up airfare alerts is a legitimate way to stay on top of savings, but be wary of any third-party mileage brokers that claim to buy and sell you points. If you want to purchase points, play it safe by doing so directly from the airline.
Final reminders to boost your odds
You’re more likely to get an upgrade if you meet the following guidelines:
- Fly solo. It’s much easier to upgrade one person than try to manage a family. If you are traveling with a group, make sure you all book separately if you want to have a better chance of getting an upgrade. Every man for himself.
- Book emptier flights. You can see how full a flight is while booking, and the more seats that remain available in first class should translate to better upgrade incentives as the airline tries to fill them.
- Be one of the first to check in. Checking in as soon as possible (typically 24 hours before departure) helps your odds of snagging whatever first class seats are open that the airline wants to sell right before your flight.
- Alternatively, be the very last. As we mentioned above, checking in late gives you the advantage of last-call upgrades that the airline is desperate to cash in. Again, this is a risky move, and you might be better off securing your economy seat early and then asking if any upgrades are available at the gate. On that note…
- Ask nicely. Maybe it should go without saying, but a little human kindness can go a long way.
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