It’s the dream to buy economy and get bumped up to first class absolutely free, but how do you make that dream a reality?
While there’s no hard and fast rule on how to bag an upgrade, there are a few ways you can increase your chances of nabbing that premium economy, business or first class upgrade.
1. Join the frequent flyer programme. Many luxury airlines like Qantas let you trade in your hard earned frequent flyer points for upgrades. This option might not be free, but this way you are guaranteed to get that upgrade on your flight. Also, it doesn’t hurt to be part of the frequent flyer programme to show that you have loyalty to the airline itself.
2. Bid in a flight upgrade auction. Again, this option might not be a freebie, but it does increase your chances of getting an upgrade for cheap. Many major airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines and Etihad let you “bid” for a seat in a more premium class. You nominate how much you’re willing to pay and if you’re the highest bidder before a designated period, you could win that premium seat. You might also like to look into bidding upgrade sites like Optiontown, which let you bid on certain benefits such as extra baggage allowance, lounge access and flatbeds on airlines including AirAsia X, SAS and Vietnam Airlines.
3. Download upgrade apps. Get notified as soon as possible so you can nab the limited number of discounted upgrades available. Due to launch later this year, Seatfrog is designed to notify those who have registered their flight with the app when the airline is offering discounted upgrades prior to departure. Those looking to step up a class can name their price through the app.
4. Don’t go for the special meal. It might seem like an odd tip, but if you can deal with the options on the onboard menu, opt out of having a special meal. These meals are linked to your seat number, so airlines generally don’t upgrade anyone who has nominated one.
5. Fly during quieter periods. During peak times you’ll find that business flyers will fill up the business and first class seats leaving nothing for eager upgraders. Fly during quieter periods and you’ve automatically increased your chances of snatching up one of the spare seats on board.
6. Timing is everything. Be early or be late, they both have their benefits. If you’re early then you could be the first one to be offered an upgraded seat. If you’re late and you haven’t been assigned a seat yet, then there’s a chance that the flight has been overbooked for your class and you could be bumped up. Of course, being late has its negatives too, including missing your flight, having the upgrades taken by those who arrived early or being bumped to the next flight because your flight is full. That’s the risk you’d have to take.
Image: Emirates
7. Make an impression. There’s a lot of advice going out about complaining about something, playing to the emotional side of the person at the counter or just generally being nice and complimenting them. We’re leaving it on this list because some say it has worked for them. Feel free to try one or the other, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work.
8. Bump yourself off the plane: If the plane has been overbooked and you can sacrifice the waiting time, nominate yourself to be bumped off the plane on the provision that you be upgraded on the next flight. If the airline can accommodate for this request, it might very well honour it.
9. Dress to impress. Some people swear by this one and it can’t hurt to look like you belong in first class when at the airline counter.
10. Don’t let a delay get the better of you. Flight delays can play a role in upgrades. You might be automatically given an upgraded ticket at the counter, or called to the counter at the gate to exchange your ticket for one with a better seat.
11. Use your status. People with titles like Dr or Judge can sometimes be upgraded purely because of their status in society. The same goes for those with diplomatic passports.
30% off pre-flight COVID-19 at-home PCR/TMA test
Free cancellation on selected bookings!
Cancel your hotel reservation for free
Up to 50% off hotel bookings
Book with Confidence – free cancellation on most rooms!
Travel flexibly and book with confidence!
15% off online bookings!
London deals £35 or less
20% off your booking
10% discount on parking and hotels at selected major airports
Download the app for free
10% off vehicle car hire insurance
Download the app for free
Access 1300+ airport lounges and travel experiences with this link
Marriott Bonvoy Benefits
CheapOair Vacation Package Deals - Up to $60- OFF
Save up to 61% off Countryside retreats
10% student discount
Book early and save up to 20%
Subscribe for member prices - unlock an extra 10% or more off select hotels
Book now and pay later with Klarna!
Amsterdam accommodation from £30pn
New York hotels from £155ppn
10% off selected hotels with Genius discount
Guaranteed best price with Booking.com's price match promise!
Central London hotels from £32pp
Stay 10 nights, get 1 reward night!
Students get extra 10% off bookings!
Up to 40% off top secret hotels!
Catch special offers before they're over
Get set for great deals with the Flash Sales!
Looking for a great birthday gift?
Airport parking from £3
Book with Confidence Guarantee
Free Shipping over £90
Save £250 on selected long-haul breaks
Explore the best car hire deals and discounts
Explore Ireland with tours starting at £16
10% student discount
10% off with newsletter sign ups
The top 11 busiest airports in the UK look after a huge 252.2 million passengers per year. We decided to look into how they compare.
We’ve put together the best flight deals and the need-to-know information to get your trip to Malta started.
Flights to New Zealand are not cheap, so use this guide to help find the best deal for your holiday.
Find low fares and deals on flights from the UK to Dubai.
Rome flights and airport tips to help you get into holiday mode without all of the fuss and worry.
Don’t spend all your money before you get there! Fly to Amsterdam for less by checking out these top tips and super ways to saves on flights.
Compare the best flight deals to Florida and plan your next getaway to sun, sea and sand now!
Learn these top tips and super ways to save on your flights to Barcelona.
