How To Get Upgraded on Your Airline Flight - Business Class Flying Tips
If you want to get an airline upgrade on your flight and want to travel in business class (or even first class) there are a number of cost-effective ways to do so which will maximise your chances of sitting at the front of the plane. |
1. Book a highly discounted business class airfare. While full fare business class tickets are very expensive you can find some excellent special deals. Get a quote from a business class consolidator specialist.
2. Join at least 2 frequent flyer programs and try to accumulate enough miles to gain elite status. If you travel regularly for work then this should be relatively easier. Airlines will always give upgrade priority to their elite members when there is availability.
3. Having a ticket on an overbooked flight will mean that you could be in line to be upgraded a class up. Alternatively, the airline may be willing to compensate you for being bumped off. Always ask if you can fly in business class on the next available flight if you are offloaded.
4. Fly in premium economy - these tickets are more expensive than the standard economy seats but give improved legroom - they are available on a number of airlines such as British Airways, British Midland bmi, Air New Zealand, United Airlines, SAS, Virgin and EVA Airways. Because these seats are limited in number, any overspill from economy class could mean you being shunted up to business class.
5. Take advantage of free companion tickets offered by some frequent flyer airline credit cards. Essentially you buy one ticket in business class and get a free ticket of the same class. This could be useful for business travellers who wish to take a partner or colleague.
6. Fly on L'Avion or OpenSkies, which are in the process of merging together after a buy-out by British Airways. BA's OpenSkies flies from Paris (and soon Amsterdam) to New York in business class and premium economy and has some great deals. L'Avion operates from Paris to Newark) from $1,550 return...
7. There is no harm in asking to be upgraded, especially if you are on honeymoon. You may get a receptive agent willing to upgrade you…but it won't happen very often nowadays. Upgrades are often decided long before you get to the airport...so it is critical to utilise a number of strategies before you fly.
8. If you are serious about flying in business class but only have an economy budget then you should consider investing in the Ultimate Airfares & Upgrades Guide. This guide includes a simple and highly effective strategy to gain immediate upgrade priority and shows you hidden criteria the airlines use in selecting people for upgrades. It gives many more insider tips and tricks including getting the world's lowest possible airfares in any class.
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