Best Ways to Get Upgraded on Flights

 

Close your eyes and imagine the blissful walk down the aisle—no, not your wedding, but the happy march from the cramped economy section of that overstuffed domestic flight to the spacious seats up front. It may be a bit more difficult to get free upgrades on airline seats than it used to be, but you lose nothing by putting the odds in your favor.

 

Members Only

Groucho Marx said that he “didn't want to belong to any club that will accept people like me,” but this attitude won't help you get an upgrade for free. Signing up for a Frequent Flyer program is the single best way to increase your chances of a free upgrade. Some airlines surprise their best customers with free upgrades when seats are available in the first-class section. Even if you're not a "high-value" customer, if you’re a rewards-program member, you're far more likely to get an upgrade than if you have no relationship at all with the airline.

Forget Dressing Down

Leave the old sweats in your suitcase if you're hoping for an upgrade. Dressing for success doesn't guarantee an invite to the front of the plane, but you definitely won't get one if you look grungy or disheveled. The more you appear to belong in the first-class section, the more likely it is that you will get the nod, as opposed to those people wearing such casual attire like tank tops, flip-flops, short-shorts and well-worn sneakers.

Bumpy Flight

You've seen it happen—a flight has been overbooked and the airline staff is looking for passengers to "bump" off the plane. To help them accomplish this, they win over the hearts of reluctant volunteers with cash offers or free upgrades for the subsequent flight. While getting bumped can be an awful inconvenience for those with tight schedules, it's a direct path to a first-class seat if you don't mind killing some time at the airport. Raise that hand high when the call comes for volunteers—or, better yet, ask whether the flight is overbooked when you check in.

Best Birthday Gift

Joyfully broadcast your reason for celebrating to airline agents and it may get you a fabulous gift—cushier seats closer to the pilot. If you're flying off on your honeymoon, celebrating a milestone birthday or heading to a special reunion, your chances of getting picked for extra leg room and free cocktails go up significantly. If you can, wave around documented proof of the happy occasion—a newspaper clipping about the reunion or your marriage certificate—to let them know you’re not telling a tall tale.

Tooting Your Own Horn

Flaunt your important status on the plane, even if you ordinarily wouldn't dream of blowing your own horn in public. If you make it known that you are a VIP, you have a better shot at an upgrade. If you book through a travel agent, ask her to note your special status on your file. If you do your own booking, use any title you have, since Dr. Jane Jones will get you to first-class faster than Mrs. Jane Jones. A military uniform will also help your cause.

Put the Odds in Your Favor

If you fly when the economy section is likely to be full and business and first-class compartments may still have empty seats, you up your chances at getting an upgrade. School vacations are a good time for this scenario, but avoid early morning ("red-eye") routes between city business hubs, because business class and first-class will probably be packed. For the very best odds, fly alone and don't request a special meal. Agents can't always accommodate a large group and usually won't have an extra first-class meal in the special meal category you requested.

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