The same goes for longer international flights. Much more critically than better food and drinks, first- and business-class seats in most international aircraft convert into beds that are pretty darn comfortable. On a flight back from Tokyo in first class a few years ago, I was actually disappointed when we began our final descent; when is the last time that happened in coach?<\/p>\n\n\n
Related:<\/h3>\n10 Ways to Get the Best Airplane Seat<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhy It\u2019s So Hard to Get a Free Upgrade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
David Rowell, who writes The Travel Insider<\/a>, notes that \u201cit is enormously harder to get upgrades these days than it used to be. Well, correction, it is harder to get undeserved<\/em> upgrades these days. The procedure for getting upgrades that one is entitled to has become almost 100 percent automatic and hands-off, and with all flights being full in both cabins, there isn\u2019t much \u2018wiggle room\u2019 for people to exploit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd it is not just a combination of luck and automation that will shut you out of upgrades\u2014at some airlines, it may be a matter of policy. \u201cMost airlines state, in no uncertain terms, that their policies prohibit arbitrary upgrading, both at check-in and onboard,\u201d says Randy Petersen of InsideFlyer<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a firm rule, with no room for negotiation or interpretation.\u201d Petersen agrees about the root cause: \u201cThis becomes understandable when you consider that upgrading is now often done electronically, rather than by queuing up at the check-in counter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese electronically issued upgrades are doled out by a number of metrics, whether to the highest-ranking elite flyer, or the person who purchased an upgrade-eligible coach fare, or the person who cashed in her miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We commonly think of just two to five main classes on airplanes, including first, business, and economy, plus the recent emergence of premium and basic economy. But the fact is that economy class can have numerous sub-classes, as outlined in this Points Guy article<\/a>\u2014and each of these class levels carries eligibility (or lack thereof) for various amenities, including upgrades. The very lowest levels of economy class will rarely be prompted to upgrade, or even eligible to upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThat said, since stories and rumors of free upgrades persist, here are some tactics to get you into that privileged group that seems to snag upgrades\u2014or at least says they do.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nRelated:<\/h3>\n18 Things You Should Always Wear on a Plane<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to Get Upgraded to First Class: 14 Tactics to Try<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These tricks and ground rules are worth keeping in mind as you try to land that elusive free upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be a seriously loyal customer.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you fly a lot on the same airline, your options for getting upgrades soar. High-mile\/point travelers are the first eligible and first chosen for most upgrades, so despite the fact that airline experts have been bemoaning the devaluing of airline miles for years, if you are a high-mileage and high-dollar flyer, you will see greatly increased upgrade offers, often at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get an airline credit card.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Using an airline credit card allows you to rack up miles, including sign-up bonuses, that you can apply toward upgrades. To see some of the best options, check out this list of airline credit cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDress neatly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dressing well is not the ticket to ride some hope it is, but even so, you are not getting an escort to the front of the plane if you are wearing cargo shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops. Most people don\u2019t even want to sit next to you in this case, let alone upgrade you.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nRelated:<\/h3>\nWhat to Wear When Flying First Class<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCheck in online at the earliest possible time.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Online check-in<\/a> is available beginning 24 hours before your flight, and the early bird has the best chance of nabbing an upgrade\u2014though you\u2019ll usually have to pay for it. As the minutes pass and more travelers check in, some of those folks will be looking and paying for upgrades, and once those seats are gone, they\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBe on time, and have good timing.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Showing up late to request an upgrade when an agent is just trying to get everyone in the air isn\u2019t going to work. Do agents the courtesy of making your request with plenty of time to spare before the flight, and when no one else is competing for their attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask politely and directly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Randy Petersen recommends something as simple as \u201cIf you are upgrading passengers on this flight, I would like to be considered.\u201d Inserting the word \u201cplease\u201d won\u2019t hurt you either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be reasonable.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Being overly demanding or demeaning just inspires agents to pick someone else to upgrade if the opportunity arises. And don\u2019t waste everyone\u2019s time and good will if you know that you are a poor candidate. If you are traveling with your whole family, have a pet lobster in a cage as your carry-on, or purchased a ticket for an extremely low fare, you probably don\u2019t want to spend your energy demanding upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nRelated:<\/h3>\n6 Things You Shouldn\u2019t Wear on a Plane<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIf the flight is relatively empty, your chances are slim.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even though seats in business class may also be empty, the airlines don\u2019t usually upgrade people for no reason. If the flight is full, your chances are better. Airlines carefully plan how much they oversell flights, and their inventory departments are not upset if people need to be upgraded to accommodate everybody on the flight. Therefore, on a full flight the airlines sometimes are forced to upgrade people. In this scenario, if you have a good story, you may be lucky. Remember, of course, that business or first class may already be full from prebooked elite-level upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracy Stewart, content editor at Airfarewatchdog<\/a>, SmarterTravel\u2019s sister site, notes, \u201cThe odds are best for those traveling solo who are sometimes reseated up front in business to accommodate families sitting together in economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nVolunteer to give up your seat if the flight is oversold.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Whenever airlines overbook flights and need folks to give up a seat, that is when you have the most leverage for getting concessions and upgrades from the airline. Most of us have been in airports listening to increasingly urgent announcements looking for volunteers to give up their seats; in that situation, you can go up to the gate, set your conditions and then let the airline decide if it can meet those conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You might say, \u201cI can volunteer to give up my seat for X hundred dollars in flight credit or an upgrade on my replacement flight, as long as I still get there by Y o\u2019clock.\u201d This may not work on the first round of volunteer requests, but when the gate agents come up on departure time and still need empty seats, they can often deliver quite a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To learn more, see Overbooked Flight? How (Not) to Get Bumped<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you have been inconvenienced by the airline, don\u2019t hesitate to ask for an upgrade.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Again, airlines don\u2019t generally upgrade people for no reason, but if they have caused you a problem, that may be reason enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your itinerary is botched or implodes for some reason, particularly if it affects only you and no one else (such that the airline is not trying to accommodate lots of folks in the same situation), your case for an upgrade on a subsequent flight becomes more compelling. The airline is not obligated to upgrade you, but if this happens, pleasantly but firmly let the gate agents know that if an upgraded seat is available on your rebooked flight, you would greatly appreciate getting that seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have been extremely inconvenienced\u2014maybe you were sent back to your hotel a couple of times, or you slept on the airport floor all night\u2014let the gate folks know, as they may have some sympathy for you.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nRelated:<\/h3>\n10 In-Flight Essentials You Should Never Travel Without<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAsk your travel agent.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My travel agent has a relationship with certain airlines that lets her book her customers into preferred seats that are not released to everyone (usually toward the front of the plane, in exit rows and the like). She can also see upgrade availability fairly quickly, and many agents can add comments to your reservation that increase your chances of being chosen for an upgrade. Ask about these the next time you talk to your travel agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watch for business-class sales.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most leisure travelers ignore advertised business-class fare sales entirely. I have occasionally seen transatlantic business-class sale fares for around $1,100 at a time when it costs that much to fly coach. This will take some persistence and sleuthing, but you can sometimes fly in the front of the plane for less than the folks crammed into the back of the plane.<\/p>\n\n\n
\nRelated:<\/h3>\nWhere to Find Premium Airfare Alerts for First and Business Class Deals<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLook for two-for-one sales.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you are traveling with family or a companion, a two-for-one sale on first- or business-class fares could cut the cost of upgrading, well, in two. At current coach prices, these could result in a wash with respect to price, if certainly not with respect to pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy an extra seat.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One interesting tactic to find yourself some breathing room offered by Petersen might appeal to folks traveling on very cheap sale fares: buy two coach tickets. Say you find one of these $100 roundtrip fares to Florida or the like; the airlines that offer these usually make up the difference in fees for checked bags, movies, food, and other extras. However, if you don\u2019t need headphones or to check a second bag, you can skip all those charges, and get yourself a heap of legroom for $50\u2014less than the cost of most premium seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you use this tactic, it will be important for you to check in your second seat, as well as present the boarding pass at the gate\u2014otherwise, your seat could be given to a standby passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In all honesty, your chance of falling into one of these free upgrades is slimmer all the time\u2014even Rowell has stopped trying entirely. That doesn\u2019t mean you have to; if you have had a recent experience with surprise or unpaid upgrades, let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No matter where you\u2019re flying, find your hotel for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t
And it is not just a combination of luck and automation that will shut you out of upgrades\u2014at some airlines, it may be a matter of policy. \u201cMost airlines state, in no uncertain terms, that their policies prohibit arbitrary upgrading, both at check-in and onboard,\u201d says Randy Petersen of InsideFlyer<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a firm rule, with no room for negotiation or interpretation.\u201d Petersen agrees about the root cause: \u201cThis becomes understandable when you consider that upgrading is now often done electronically, rather than by queuing up at the check-in counter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These electronically issued upgrades are doled out by a number of metrics, whether to the highest-ranking elite flyer, or the person who purchased an upgrade-eligible coach fare, or the person who cashed in her miles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We commonly think of just two to five main classes on airplanes, including first, business, and economy, plus the recent emergence of premium and basic economy. But the fact is that economy class can have numerous sub-classes, as outlined in this Points Guy article<\/a>\u2014and each of these class levels carries eligibility (or lack thereof) for various amenities, including upgrades. The very lowest levels of economy class will rarely be prompted to upgrade, or even eligible to upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, since stories and rumors of free upgrades persist, here are some tactics to get you into that privileged group that seems to snag upgrades\u2014or at least says they do.<\/p>\n\n\n These tricks and ground rules are worth keeping in mind as you try to land that elusive free upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you fly a lot on the same airline, your options for getting upgrades soar. High-mile\/point travelers are the first eligible and first chosen for most upgrades, so despite the fact that airline experts have been bemoaning the devaluing of airline miles for years, if you are a high-mileage and high-dollar flyer, you will see greatly increased upgrade offers, often at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using an airline credit card allows you to rack up miles, including sign-up bonuses, that you can apply toward upgrades. To see some of the best options, check out this list of airline credit cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dressing well is not the ticket to ride some hope it is, but even so, you are not getting an escort to the front of the plane if you are wearing cargo shorts, a tank top, and flip-flops. Most people don\u2019t even want to sit next to you in this case, let alone upgrade you.<\/p>\n\n\n Online check-in<\/a> is available beginning 24 hours before your flight, and the early bird has the best chance of nabbing an upgrade\u2014though you\u2019ll usually have to pay for it. As the minutes pass and more travelers check in, some of those folks will be looking and paying for upgrades, and once those seats are gone, they\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Showing up late to request an upgrade when an agent is just trying to get everyone in the air isn\u2019t going to work. Do agents the courtesy of making your request with plenty of time to spare before the flight, and when no one else is competing for their attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Randy Petersen recommends something as simple as \u201cIf you are upgrading passengers on this flight, I would like to be considered.\u201d Inserting the word \u201cplease\u201d won\u2019t hurt you either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being overly demanding or demeaning just inspires agents to pick someone else to upgrade if the opportunity arises. And don\u2019t waste everyone\u2019s time and good will if you know that you are a poor candidate. If you are traveling with your whole family, have a pet lobster in a cage as your carry-on, or purchased a ticket for an extremely low fare, you probably don\u2019t want to spend your energy demanding upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n Even though seats in business class may also be empty, the airlines don\u2019t usually upgrade people for no reason. If the flight is full, your chances are better. Airlines carefully plan how much they oversell flights, and their inventory departments are not upset if people need to be upgraded to accommodate everybody on the flight. Therefore, on a full flight the airlines sometimes are forced to upgrade people. In this scenario, if you have a good story, you may be lucky. Remember, of course, that business or first class may already be full from prebooked elite-level upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracy Stewart, content editor at Airfarewatchdog<\/a>, SmarterTravel\u2019s sister site, notes, \u201cThe odds are best for those traveling solo who are sometimes reseated up front in business to accommodate families sitting together in economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever airlines overbook flights and need folks to give up a seat, that is when you have the most leverage for getting concessions and upgrades from the airline. Most of us have been in airports listening to increasingly urgent announcements looking for volunteers to give up their seats; in that situation, you can go up to the gate, set your conditions and then let the airline decide if it can meet those conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might say, \u201cI can volunteer to give up my seat for X hundred dollars in flight credit or an upgrade on my replacement flight, as long as I still get there by Y o\u2019clock.\u201d This may not work on the first round of volunteer requests, but when the gate agents come up on departure time and still need empty seats, they can often deliver quite a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more, see Overbooked Flight? How (Not) to Get Bumped<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, airlines don\u2019t generally upgrade people for no reason, but if they have caused you a problem, that may be reason enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your itinerary is botched or implodes for some reason, particularly if it affects only you and no one else (such that the airline is not trying to accommodate lots of folks in the same situation), your case for an upgrade on a subsequent flight becomes more compelling. The airline is not obligated to upgrade you, but if this happens, pleasantly but firmly let the gate agents know that if an upgraded seat is available on your rebooked flight, you would greatly appreciate getting that seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have been extremely inconvenienced\u2014maybe you were sent back to your hotel a couple of times, or you slept on the airport floor all night\u2014let the gate folks know, as they may have some sympathy for you.<\/p>\n\n\n My travel agent has a relationship with certain airlines that lets her book her customers into preferred seats that are not released to everyone (usually toward the front of the plane, in exit rows and the like). She can also see upgrade availability fairly quickly, and many agents can add comments to your reservation that increase your chances of being chosen for an upgrade. Ask about these the next time you talk to your travel agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most leisure travelers ignore advertised business-class fare sales entirely. I have occasionally seen transatlantic business-class sale fares for around $1,100 at a time when it costs that much to fly coach. This will take some persistence and sleuthing, but you can sometimes fly in the front of the plane for less than the folks crammed into the back of the plane.<\/p>\n\n\n If you are traveling with family or a companion, a two-for-one sale on first- or business-class fares could cut the cost of upgrading, well, in two. At current coach prices, these could result in a wash with respect to price, if certainly not with respect to pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One interesting tactic to find yourself some breathing room offered by Petersen might appeal to folks traveling on very cheap sale fares: buy two coach tickets. Say you find one of these $100 roundtrip fares to Florida or the like; the airlines that offer these usually make up the difference in fees for checked bags, movies, food, and other extras. However, if you don\u2019t need headphones or to check a second bag, you can skip all those charges, and get yourself a heap of legroom for $50\u2014less than the cost of most premium seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you use this tactic, it will be important for you to check in your second seat, as well as present the boarding pass at the gate\u2014otherwise, your seat could be given to a standby passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all honesty, your chance of falling into one of these free upgrades is slimmer all the time\u2014even Rowell has stopped trying entirely. That doesn\u2019t mean you have to; if you have had a recent experience with surprise or unpaid upgrades, let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter where you\u2019re flying, find your hotel for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\tRelated:<\/h3>\n18 Things You Should Always Wear on a Plane<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
How to Get Upgraded to First Class: 14 Tactics to Try<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Be a seriously loyal customer.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Get an airline credit card.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dress neatly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Related:<\/h3>\nWhat to Wear When Flying First Class<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Check in online at the earliest possible time.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be on time, and have good timing.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ask politely and directly.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be reasonable.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Related:<\/h3>\n6 Things You Shouldn\u2019t Wear on a Plane<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
If the flight is relatively empty, your chances are slim.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Volunteer to give up your seat if the flight is oversold.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you have been inconvenienced by the airline, don\u2019t hesitate to ask for an upgrade.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Related:<\/h3>\n10 In-Flight Essentials You Should Never Travel Without<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Ask your travel agent.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Watch for business-class sales.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Related:<\/h3>\nWhere to Find Premium Airfare Alerts for First and Business Class Deals<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Look for two-for-one sales.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Buy an extra seat.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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