Who has never dreamed of sitting at the front of the plane and enjoying the comfort of business class by paying for an economy class ticket? If upgrading remains a chance, here are ten tips to force destiny.
1. Check your emails
On the day of departure, up to an hour before take-off, some airlines occasionally offer discounted upgrades when business class seats are vacant. If you accept, you will be asked to pay a flat rate (usually around €200 for a long-haul flight) or miles will be deducted from your loyalty card if you have one. If your mailbox is empty, don’t hesitate to ask the airline’s counter for the upgrade price.
2. Be faithful
The loyalty card is precisely a major asset in your quest. Even if the status is at a low level, members are given more attention, from a glass of champagne to the opportunity for an upgrade. The higher the passenger’s status in the program, the more miles they have accumulated, and the more priority they will have, as confirmed by most airlines. An economically logical choice: it is better to offer an upgraded long-haul flight to a regular customer, in the hope that when they next book, they will opt directly for a higher class. So know how to invest to hope to get a return.
3. Choose the right period
When booking, timing is crucial. Business seats are mostly occupied, as their name suggests, by businessmen or women and personalities who travel mainly during the week. By prioritizing weekends and public holidays for departure, the probability of having free seats at the front of the plane will be higher.
Also, bet on a midday flight rather than an early morning schedule. However, school holidays should be avoided when flights to sought-after routes are overbooked unless you are betting on overbooking. At your own risk, because you are more likely to have to wait for the next plane than to enjoy a glass of champagne in a comfortable armchair.
4. Arrive (really) very early
If you’re not afraid of spending hours in airport duty-free shops and restaurants, sometimes patience can pay off. If the flight only has one or two seats available, arriving early to check-in can make the process easier with some airlines.
Be careful though, in advance does not mean four hours before the flight, but more than ten hours! Attention amateurs.
5. or at the last minute
Conversely, for other airlines, the decision to upgrade is made at the time of flight closure, one hour before takeoff. So it is at the end of check-in, when most passengers have already boarded that you are most likely to be moved to a higher class. This would work particularly well during peak hours, but beware of the risk of missing check-in.
6. Travel alone
If a seat becomes available, it will be easier for the cabin manager to accommodate a single passenger. While an upgrade is sometimes granted to a couple, for example on honeymoons, families can forget about their dream of migrating as a tribe. Airlines are keen on the serenity of the space and (rightly) avoid accommodating young children there.
7. Be kind
Remember: you are not owed anything. If courtesy and kindness are valuable qualities in everyday life, they are also valuable at the airport.
We will therefore rely on his likeability capital: showing a nice row of teeth might earn you a few positions in the ranks of passengers applying for an upgrade.
8. Wear appropriate clothing
Clothes don’t make the man, but they can work in your favor or, conversely, against you. “We don’t ask you to wear a suit and tie, but there is a minimum. A person who wears shorts or flip-flops will not be upgraded. Jeans and sneakers can also be a deal-breaker for some cabin managers,” admits a cabin crew member from a regular airline. Forget comfortable but shapeless pants, elegant clothing is key!
9. Nurture your relationships
It is a fact that having a relative who works for the airline you are flying with can help. Ideally, the person concerned should submit a letter of request to the captain of the flight and the chief cabin crew to explain that their brother or best friend is on board the plane.
If there are any seats available, then an upgrade may be possible. If not, diplomatic passports have magical powers too…
10. Cultivate your uniqueness
Do you have a leg in plaster? Are you significantly overweight and could disturb your seat neighbor? Are you pregnant? Be proud of it, these characteristics could well earn you a change of class. And if you are also traveling on your birthday, the chances of the cabin crew paying you a little attention will be doubled… Madam, Sir, would you like a little haircut?