how to get an airline upgrade | budget travel tricks

I booked premium economy from London to Las Vegas. Asked the desk agent if there were any free upgrades. She said no. I said it's never happened to me before but one day I might get that magical free upgrade and we both laughed. I said thanks and left the desk. When I got to the gate, the agent put my ticket in the machine as I was boarding then it came out and she tore it in half and then printed me a new ticket. Business-class. SCORE! That was a very nice trip in a flatbed seat with a duvet. It's never happened since. But I ask every single time.

Former ticket/gate agent. Being nice can not be overstated. Everyone is harried, especially us. Nearly everyone who comes up to the podium has a problem and aren't happy about it. It's a lot to deal with. It's our job....yeah yeah yeah. We're human, too. When you're constantly bombarded with negativity, it hurts. So be nice and you will be loved and get whatever we can give you!

My mother and I were upgraded. So thrilled, as it was her last flight. The staff treated her well and were not aware she had cancer!

i was once upgraded in Orlando with my flight back to Philadelphia by the pilot as i was wearing a Dallas Cowboys hat... Pilot was great called me over said to follow him..took me to the counter and said "upgrade this man because he's flying into philly with that hat on i want his last few hours to be enjoyable".

I almost never fly, but I travel with a service dog. Last time I flew I got bumped to help make room for my seizure alert dog. I did not ask. They pulled me aside and put me in a roomier area. It was such a pleasant surprise! Thanks United!

I got upgraded to business class at least twice now and it was a total shock. Both times it happened as we were boarding. When the gate agent scanned my boarding pass it made a different buzzer sound than the person before me and the agent said"step to the side" sir! I thought I was in trouble and then she tore up my boarding pass and handed me another with a lower seat number YES!!!! I knew I got upgraded right then!

When I was in college I got upgraded from economy to first class for JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale to SFO, the lady at the desk mentioned she saw how long I had been waiting since the flight was delayed and I’m one of those who doesn’t wait last minute to get to an airport. So out of pity she gratefully upgraded me, that was my first time flying with them and sad to say I haven’t flown with them since. It was a nice experience though and I appreciated it a ton!

I got a free upgrade on Qatar Airways from Economy to Business Class, because a daughter was sitting away from an elderly mother, I loved their union and my free upgrade from JFK to DOHA, felt super luxury. Lol 😂

I have heard multiple flight attendants (as in at least three or more) say that dressing like you belong in Business or First DOES matter. Even if someone is a frequent flyer with that airline, shorts and flipflops probably aren't going to cut it.

These are great tips!! Delta usually upgrades me on one flight from Basic Economy to Premium Economy if I'm flying by myself, especially if using Skymiles redemption. Also, one time I was actually upgraded from Economy to First Class on a flight from ORD to YYZ with Air Canada. The plane was almost empty so the flight crew treated my ex-boyfriend and me (we didn't ask for this at all, lol!). It was such a great experience, and has made me more loyal to AC if I need to fly them.

I've been upgraded a few times without having to do any of those. One of those times I was coming back from the Gulf War and on the last leg of my trip, I was asked where I was coming from with normal chit chat and I told them from Turkey. A few minutes later she came back and asked if I would like to move up to 1st class. Of course I would. Thanked her and the rest of the crew for making coming home that much more special.

Paying full price helps. A friend was on a flight to Europe that was mostly empty. There were enough seats in first class to move every coach passenger up. And every coach passenger was given a first class seat for the eight hour trip, except one. When someone asked, they were told that the reason the one passenger was left in coach is because she bought her ticket through a discount website.

Your absolutely right about how to go about upgrades. When I was a Regular Flyer with EVA from 2005 to 2012. I could usually ask for a Bulk Head in Premium Econ and get it. Once I was flying Regular Economy and at regular check in offered Premium Econ for extra $ since the Ticket Agent saw I usually fly Pre Econ. I respectfully said No. Well , at the gate the The Agent called me up and put me in Premium Econ - no charge. I'm always Very Polite to "All Agents" and dress very Neat and Clean - A Cut Above most passengers. It makes a difference.

I am happy sitting in the last seat in the back. Chances are my luggage gets checked in for free and I have two or one seat empty. I love it😊 People sitting at the front get to board first, but the airplane wont leave until the last group, settle in.

I book coach; however, I usually get an upgrade to first class for about $100 just by asking if there are any empty first class seats they want to sell. The last three times I've flown have been first class for just $100 extra. Great deal!

I was getting upgraded 15+ times on international routes, mainly LAX-MUC/FRA and vice versa. In my experience all your statements are spot on. 1) upgrades started to happen as soon as I became a frequent traveler. 2) Once flew back from MUC to LAX. Was booked on Eco, checked in 24h in advance in person to get a seat with a lot of extra leg room. When boarding, someone was sitting on my seat and he showed me a boarding pass with the same seat assigned as mine. Explained to purser that I just had knee surgery and came 24 hours in advance to the airport to secure this particular seat. After a couple of minutes she came back and said, that she has a seat with a lot of legroom and I followed her to my new seat in business class. 3) got upgraded a always from business to first and from eco to business, from eco to permium eco, but never from economy to first. 4) Checked with the agent if a seat in business was available, because it was my birthday, but did not receive a complementary upgrade. Had to use points. 5) However, i got upgraded to business 3-4 while traveling with my wife.

I work for an airline and the last part about asking for free upgrades is so true, whenever I get asked that I immediately say it's full, even tho there are seats still available 😂😂

Ms. Jess I just came across your post and channel. I found your post to be spot on. I wasn't aware of the possible penalty to an employee of an inappropriate upg. I have flown lots across the Pacific in long haul 747's and in transcon 767, 757 aircraft. As a disabled tall traveler I always appreciate the gift of an upgrade. I look forward to reading your channel. Cheers

Got upgraded from eco to first once . I was assisting my mother with her separate flight (because it got delayed by 7 hours and she was new to the country ) and I ended up missing my flight by 30 secs ( door closed as I ran up ) and I had to stay in the airport until the next morning so the guy bumped me up …I was pretty happy

I've only ever been upgraded three times in my life. Twice when flights were overbooked and I volunteered to be bumped. Vouchers for a hotel room, meals, taxis, and 1st class upgrade - why not? But there was one horrible January when a storm was engulfing half of the US. My ex was getting agitated at the counter but I guess I said some things to both him and the agent that made her decide to go a further than what any traveler could or should expect. She doesn't control the weather, the flights, or how people respond to stress. She was as stressed as every traveler she had to deal with that day. She ended up finding two seats in 1st class on a different airline that was currently boarding. She had our luggage pulled, had a driver take us to the other terminal and called the gate we were headed to let them know to allow us to board. It got really fun when that second airplane had a mechanical issue! It took hours longer than anticipated to reach our destination but we ended up having a blast with the other passengers and the crew members on that flight.