How to get an upgrade on a flight: A complete guide

Sometimes you book your trip with the best of intentions but, when departure finally rolls around, the thought of sitting in economy really kills your travel buzz.

While there are many travel myths around getting an upgrade on your ticket, there are some genuinely useful flight upgrade tips you can give a try. Free, surprise upgrades are rare, but paid, miles or operational upgrades can happen – you just need to know how to give yourself the best chance. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to get an upgrade on a flight, including how to get upgraded to business class.

What you’ll learn in this guide

• How flight upgrades work
• When to ask for a flight upgrade
• 9 high-impact tips for getting upgraded on a flight – including a free flight upgrade

How airline upgrades work

When it comes to getting an airline upgrades on UK flights, it’s good to remember that airlines generally want to fill every seat and will upgrade passengers if they have the capacity. Although it’s never guaranteed, you always have some chance of bumping up your airline seat.

There are a range of things that airlines consider when deciding who to upgrade. Understanding how airlines make these decisions can help you be the one who gets a flight upgrade, like arriving at the airport a bit later or buying slightly more expensive tickets.

Airlines will likely have a priority list for passenger types they can upgrade too. These decision factors usually include:

• Airline loyalty status → highest priority; 
• Fare/ticket type → flexible/semi-flex often ranks higher; 
• Seat availability → must be available in higher cabin; 
• Timing → booking in the last 24-48 hours; 
• Operational needs → oversold economy.

Upgrades typically fall into five key categories: miles/points, cash upgrades, bid programs, operational, and credit-card/elite benefits. Some of these options are free while other involve a payment of sorts, so it’s important to evaluate each to decide which works bests for your situation.

Paid vs free: your upgrade options, ranked

So you know the airline decision factors when it comes to upgrades and some of your key options on how to get one – but what ranks the best? Let’s take a look.

1. Use miles and benefits: If you have them, this is the most reliable way to get an upgrade. This will be guaranteed if available, but sometimes there are limited tickets per flight available to be paid for with miles, for example. This option is available at booking.
   
2. Buy a same-day cash upgrade: This is often available at check-in or via the airline app closer to the flight and can be cheaper than booking a business flight outright. On the flip side, it can sometimes be more expensive too depending on the day, time of year and airline.
   
3. Bid for an upgrade: This is a great option if the airline supports it. Lots of people use this option to try for an upgrade and you can be successful with a low offer if you don’t have much competition. This option tends to become available in the days leading up to your flight.
   
4. Operational/complimentary: It’s everyone’s dream to get upgraded on a whim. While complimentary upgrades do happen, it’s the least likely way to get a flight upgrade. If it does, it usually happens at the gate or as you board.

9 flight upgrade tips anyone can try

Whether you’re taking a quick flight for work or jetting off around the globe, these tips could help you snag a free ticket upgrade to business class, first or premium economy. Here are the 9 best tips for how to get an upgrade on a flight for your next adventure, including business class upgrade tips and a last-minute flight upgrade.

Tip 1: Buy a slightly more expensive ticket

If you want to score a last-minute first or business class upgrade, you will have a better chance if you’ve already bought a more expensive ticket. Airline staff often prioritise passengers who have already paid for a higher-quality experience, such as an upgrade to premium economy. While it’s a bit of a gamble, choosing a slightly higher travel class can increase your chance of getting an upgrade.

Tip 2: Put those frequent flyer miles to good use

Passengers who are always on the go can build up frequent flyer miles with every trip they take. If you’re wondering how to get free upgrades on flights using air miles, you’re more likely to get your seat bumped up if you often fly with the same airline as this can earn you loyalty points. Some airlines limits the number of seats available for booking via miles, so booking in advance can give you the best chance of getting a good seat.

Tip 3: Buy an upgraded seat

Most airlines allow passengers to buy a seat upgrade if one is available. If you’ve got some slack in your travel budget or some spare loyalty points, you can pay on the day to upgrade your seat. Of course, getting an upgrade on the day is subject to availability so, if you want to be guaranteed a spot in first or business class, contact your airline a day or two in advance.

Tip 4: Volunteer your seat

Wondering how to get upgraded to business class for free? One way is to volunteer your seat if the flight is oversold. Airline staff are usually grateful when customers are willing to help out as it saves them time and effort. Often, airline staff will bump volunteers up to empty seats in higher airline classes – so if you’re not on a time crunch, this can be a great option.

Tip 5: Check in slightly later

Although most advice about how to get upgraded on a flight focuses on arriving early, getting to check in slightly late could also work to your advantage. Checking in later on a busy flight may mean that you have a better chance of upgrading as the plane fills up. If the flight is quiet, there may be spare seats after most other passengers have checked in. Either way, it’s worth asking, but isn’t a guaranteed method.

Remember, checking in slightly later doesn’t mean arriving late – it’s not worth jeopardising your seat.

Tip 6: Travel during off-peak times

If you want a seat change, you should think about the best time to upgrade a flight. Travelling at quieter times of the year increases your chances because your plane will likely be quiet and there will often be some seats going spare. This is also often when flights are cheapest in general. Flying mid-week can boost your chance for this, too.

Tip 7: Travel alone

Solo travellers are far more likely to be upgraded than those travelling in groups. Airline staff will usually avoid separating parties seated together and will often only have single seats available. This makes it easy for staff to move solo passengers because they won’t have to persuade anyone to leave their companions in economy. While you can’t always choose to travel alone, this trick can be a handy perk when you are flying solo.

Tip 8: Be flexible with your seat assignment

If you don’t have strong feelings about snagging a window seat or who you sit next to, you can sometimes leave your seat assignment open when you book. People who have not selected a seat are more likely to be upgraded. Staying flexible in economy could be your ticket to first or business class.

Tip 9: Be polite to airline staff

Sometimes, the best tips are the simplest. If you’re wondering how to ask for an upgrade on a flight, politely check with staff when you check in or at the gate when you board. General politeness is also a bonus – and is a good idea in any scenario. If a seat comes up, staff are far more likely to remember the pleasant passengers and offer a free flight upgrade.

Some people also find pairing politeness with a treat for the crew – like sweets or chocolates – can boost their chances of an upgrade too (or, if not, often at least gets you some free treats during your flight!)

When to ask: a timing cheat sheet

Like many things in life, timing is everything when it comes to optimising your chance of getting upgraded. When to approach this will depend on a few things, like if you’re willing to pay a bit for the chance or if you have the option of miles to use. Here are some of the key timestamps and what to do.

• At booking: search fares that are ‘upgrade eligible’ and log in for targeted offers.
  
• After ticketing (two to seven days before your flight): watch for emails and app offers, and check if upgrading with miles is feasible.
  
• Online check-in (24 hours before your flight): refresh the airline’s website or app for paid promos.
  
• At bag drop, the lounge or the gate (from two hours before departure): politely ask airline staff and volunteer to switch flights on oversold flights.

Myths vs reality

There are a lots of myths surrounding getting an upgrade. Think you need to wear a suit to get an upgrade? That’s a myth – politeness and eligibility matter much more than what you’re wearing. Another common misconception is that arriving early gets you an upgrade when status, fare and availability get priority over this. Not all airlines let you bid for upgrades, too.

Something that is true is getting bumped up to a more premium seat by asking if there’s availability for this on a later flight that day. This is especially true on oversold flights – you will be the crew’s saviour if you volunteered to forego your seat for a later flight with a better seat.

Quick pre-flight checklist

Feel like you’re ready to try for a seat upgrade? It’s time to tick off this checklist.

• Log into airline account
  
• Check upgrade space and offers
  
• Set your seat to ‘flexible’ where possible
  
• Have your miles/credit card ready for same-day upgrade
  
• Plan your polite ask to airline staff and arrive with extra time

There is a lot of debate on flight upgrade tips, how to get upgraded to business class and how to get an upgrade on a flight in general, but using this guide will optimise your chances and help you set your expectations for your next travel day. Remember, politeness is always important – and especially if you want an upgrade.

FAQs