Some credit card points can be converted to miles, so check your card policy. If you have a good credit card with points, use it for every payment possible to rack up the maximum amount of points possible. [2] X Expert Source Stef KatzTravel Agent Expert Interview. 8 July 2022. You can also purchase miles directly from the airline. Do some math to figure out if purchasing miles is cheaper than buying an upgrade with cash. Be sure to check with your airline’s policy in advance. Some airlines, like Delta, United, and American, won’t let you upgrade a basic economy ticket with points. Economy Plus or Premium tickets should still be eligible, though.
At the highest status levels, you’ll have a 75% chance of getting a complimentary upgrade from economy to first-class. Many airlines offer tiered benefits to their elite status flyers. The higher your tier, the more benefits you’ll receive.
Selecting seats ahead of time won’t lower your chances of getting an upgrade. If anything, you’re more likely to get bumped to first-class. Flying solo can also help you move up in the line.
If all first-class seats are booked, you won’t be able to get an upgrade. Buying an upgrade at the airport is a gamble, but it can save you money.
You’ll find out 24 to 48 hours before the flight if your bid was successful. These auctions tend to be blind, so you won’t know what other passengers are bidding. It’s better to bid closer to the higher end of what you’d be willing to pay.
Say something like, “I’d be happy to give up my seat on this flight, if you can guarantee me a first-class seat on a flight that arrives at my destination before noon tomorrow. ”
For example, if you want to fly from New York to San Francisco, you might find cheaper tickets by flying out of New Jersey, taking an economy flight from New York to Pittsburgh before flying first-class to San Francisco. The key to purchasing cheap airline tickets is to stay at the destination over a Saturday night. Air fares are usually priced to the extent where business travelers are charged the most, and those are the people that cannot stay a Saturday night. Anytime that you will not be able to spend a Saturday night at the destination, chances are you’re going to be facing a more expensive airfare. [10] X Expert Source Greg GuiterasTravel Specialist Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.
Smile, dress well, and arrive early at the check-in counter. You want to make a good impression since you’re asking for a favor. Say something like, “I’m not sure what your policy is, but I was wondering if you have any available first-class upgrades for customers. ”
FirstClassFlyer. com has a monthly newsletter and fare alerts for subscribers. The Twitter account @theflightdeal tracks low-fare alerts. Flyertalk. com has a forum where users upload low-fare opportunities.
