Eight Practical Tips for Getting an Airline Upgrade

We’ve all got one of those annoying friends.

You know, the one who breezes back from their latest world trip gushing: ‘Oh yes, it was amaaaazing! We got an upgrade and spent eight hours sleeping off our pre-flight Moët’.

Irritating as they are, secretly we’d all love the opportunity to live it up in the plane’s pointy-end. Unless you have the cash to splash on a full fare business or first class ticket, you’re travelling on company time, or even booking a charter plane in Australia, nothing is guaranteed. But in the event that an upgrade does come your way, happy days! The indulgence and extra special service will get your your trip off to a great start.

Here are eight tips for getting an airline upgrade — or at least improving your odds!

1. Be loyal

You won’t get an upgrade just because there’s a shedload of empty seats and chilled champagne going spare in Business. However, if the airline has overbooked Economy, some of those sweet seats just might be on offer. Loyal customers will always get priority, so you’re much more likely to get an op-up* (yep, now you know) if you’re a frequent flyer — or at least have a few points up your sleeve. Sign up for as many airline loyalty programs as possible to give yourself a sporting chance. * Operational upgrade. Now you really know!

2. Arrive early, or late

Be early or late. Confused? The truth is both tactics can work. If upgrades are on the table, it’s usually only a couple of seats. So, if you’re really early you might just get in first. The odds are about the same for being late. If the flight is overbooked, being the last to check in means you might get bumped up.

How will you know which way to go? You won’t. So, you’ll just have to do your best Dirty Harry and ask yourself: ‘Do you feel lucky punk?’ Well, do you? PS. Don’t miss check-in all together. That would not be good.

3. Look nice and be nice

Getting kitted out in Gucci and fronting up to ask for an upgrade in your best cut-glass accent ain’t the technique it used to be. However, you’ll have a far better shot if you’re dressed smartly than if you show up barefoot in a Bob Marley t-shirt smelling of patchouli oil. The ‘being nice’ advice should go without saying, but just to reiterate: you catch way more flies with honey and you do with vinegar.

4. Pick your battles (aka flight times)

If you can travel on a weekend or public holiday you’ll increase your odds of getting upgraded simply because most business people aren’t flying around the world at those times being busy and important. If you must fly on a weekday, avoid early mornings and late afternoon/early evening flights. Business class is always packed during those peak periods.

5. Volunteer to be bumped

It can be catastrophic for anyone travelling on a tight timeline, but being bumped from an oversold flight does have its advantages if you’re flexible with your arrangements. Airlines will often ask for volunteers and offer sweeteners for those happy to take a later departure — including flight upgrades. Prepare to haggle and head for the service desk.

6. Show them the money

Airlines have now twigged that people are prepared to pay for an upgrade, so they’re happy to oblige. Before checking in, ask one of the ground staff how much it will cost to upgrade your seat. The amount can vary from ‘as if’ to fairly reasonable.

Increasingly, you can also upgrade using points. The catch is that most airlines only allow flexible ticket holders (i.e. not sale tickets) to do it. So, if you don’t end up getting an upgrade, you will have paid a whole lot extra for a whole lot of nothing!

7. Place a bid

As an extension of the above, Qantas offers its Frequent Flyer program members the opportunity to bid for an upgrade using a mix of cash and points. If you love a flutter, why not roll the dice and give it a go? If eligible, you should receive an email from Qantas (or you can check your eligibility on their website). Make your offer, then keep everything crossed. You won’t know if your bid has been successful until 24 hours before the flight.

8. Travel on your own

OK, ‘Norman no-mates’, this is where you come into your own. Solo travellers are statistically far more likely to be offered an upgrade than those travelling as a couple or in a larger group. And just a tip: if you are a couple and one business class seat is offered, don’t shoot that hand up like a rocket. ‘You take it honey’, is the advisable response!

This post was published thanks to Air Charter Service.

Do you have any tips for getting an airline upgrade? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Additional images: Bigstock