9 Easy Ways to Get Free Airline Upgrades
Stay calm and fly high; there are simple steps that you can take.
When it comes to air transport, for some people at least, it feels like a bit of a donnybrook. Most of the seats available are not cozy, there is no space to stretch the legs and some fights can even arise over one of the several armrests. It is easier to tolerate air travel, especially for long-haul journeys, when upgrading one’s seat is even a possibility. Unfortunately, few people would go beyond that when incurs an additional cost. There are, nevertheless some very lucky free-upgrade-enjoying passengers; and you too can be one of them.
In case you are interested in improving the travel conditions, you will definitely appreciate these tips on how to get good seats for free.
- Harness airline credit card offers
Most popular national airlines have issued cards for customers which permits the owners to earn mileage which sometimes comes in handy to upgrade the seats for free.
So for example if you normally use an airline card to purchase everyday items such as grocery, gas, clothing etc, you stand the chance of earning enough points to travel first class without actually paying for it.
2. Offer to move seats voluntarily
There are some instances where the flight attendant would genuinely reach out to the passengers and ask them to volunteer to move to another available free seat. This can happen for instance to ensure that families or couples sit together on the flight.
People differ around such requests, some will consider them as being an annoyance while others will view them as some room to upscale. Some airlines and some circumstances, will allow you to be transferred to a higher class for being flexible with them.
3. It’s important to retain flexibility on your travel dates
There are chances of getting upgraded free of charge, especially if you agree to change your travel plans cloth. In order to fill the seats on all the planes, the airlines decide to overbook flight tickets.
There are times when there is no more space on a plane than the number of people who booked tickets and in those occasions the airline staff at the gate will make an appeal for people to give their seats out instead in return for traveling at another date with a complimentary seat upgrade.
4. Purchase tickets for less crowded flights
Luck is often the determining factor in most freeupgrades but there are circumspeerctions to solving an already arrived answerones whereby the primary causative factor might be either time or luck. However, there are a few different methods to improve your odds.
You are less likely to win a contest to get a free upgrade if you board flights with a lot of passengers. On a sold-out plane, extra upgrade seats are just not there; however, should there be less people booking, you might catch a free up grade simply because there are finally some seats available.
5. Go to the gate before boarding begins
Even without the flight boarding being delayed, one can still take actions that would increase One’s chances of getting an upgrade.
As soon as the gate agent determines the expected number of boarders, they may count the number of upgrade possibilities. Arriving early could enable you to free up an upgrade position.
6. Become friendly with the gate agent
Being social and cordial will get one very far. While it may be the flight attendants who communicate upgrades, more often than not, they have no way to assist in changing tickets and or seats.
Aim to understand the type of competition you will fly against and make associated decisions which will enhance your matrix of opportunity. Getting to know and communicting how strongly you feel about the upgrade you may in all probability want can comfortably put you among those who will win it.
7. Use Social Websites
Surprisingly, social media can be a source of good deals, discounts, and upgrades for this purpose as well.
For instance virgin atlantic one time held a contest over social media where they asked for upgrade requests from their customers with the most interesting request receiving an upgrade.
8. Make the most of the frequent flyer programs
Frequent flyer programs are terrific in fetching wonderful privileges like discounted flights, free drinks, and even upgrades in their seats of choice depending on how well you have stacked up slightly higher.
Although not all loyalty programs include upgrades, certain ones are more focused on them than others, For instance, that of American Airlines, AAdvantage provides their status members with complimentary upgrades as long as the higher categories are available.
9. Just ask
At last, there is no harm in asking. You can always approach the gate agent and ask whether there are any vacant upgrades and if you qualify for any of them. The worst they can do is to say no, but then again they might surprise you and meet your demand.
Final thoughts
Although these techniques may not necessarily ensure that you walk away with a complimentary seat upgrade, your chances can definitely be improved. A little forethought and optimism, and maybe on the next flight, you will be seated in greater comfort without having to empty your purse or any other article containing your money.
