The Secrets To Getting Upgraded To Business Class

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    1/9
  • 2/9
    Be a loyal customer - Spending a lot of time and money with an airline, and ensuring every trip is logged through a loyalty programme, is the only sure fire way to get a free upgrade at least once in your life.
    2/9 Be a loyal customer - Spending a lot of time and money with an airline, and ensuring every trip is logged through a loyalty programme, is the only sure fire way to get a free upgrade at least once in your life.
  • 3/9
    Fly solo - It's nearly impossible to find two free seats together in business or first class, so if you're travelling with a partner, your chances of both getting upgraded are nearly impossible. If you fly solo, it's far, far easier to get an upgrade.
    3/9 Fly solo - It's nearly impossible to find two free seats together in business or first class, so if you're travelling with a partner, your chances of both getting upgraded are nearly impossible. If you fly solo, it's far, far easier to get an upgrade.
  • 4/9
    Sweet talk - Sweet talk means more than just being cordial and giving compliments at the check-in desk. You can try to elicit pity with your sweet talk at the airport, which, if successful, will work sympathetically for your upgrade potential. If there's a particular reason you're flying somewhere - a funeral is ideal - use this to your advantage.
    4/9 Sweet talk - Sweet talk means more than just being cordial and giving compliments at the check-in desk. You can try to elicit pity with your sweet talk at the airport, which, if successful, will work sympathetically for your upgrade potential. If there's a particular reason you're flying somewhere - a funeral is ideal - use this to your advantage.
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    There will usually never be any spare premium-class seats on weekend flights, or during busy times of the year like Christmas. However, unpopular flights are more likely to have business or first class seats to give away. Think about this when booking your fare in the first instance.
    5/9 There will usually never be any spare premium-class seats on weekend flights, or during busy times of the year like Christmas. However, unpopular flights are more likely to have business or first class seats to give away. Think about this when booking your fare in the first instance.
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    Book flexi-fares - If you've booked the cheapest possible economy ticket, it's difficult to get upgraded. However, if you have already forked out for a fully flexible fare with an excess baggage allowance and the rest of the works, it sends a message to airline staff: "I'm not a cheapskate".
    6/9 Book flexi-fares - If you've booked the cheapest possible economy ticket, it's difficult to get upgraded. However, if you have already forked out for a fully flexible fare with an excess baggage allowance and the rest of the works, it sends a message to airline staff: "I'm not a cheapskate".
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    Be early - The last time I was upgraded, I was at the airport four hours before my flight. I simply asked if there was a seat in business class available, I was informed there was one seat but it hadn't "opened up" yet. When it did become "available" my name was already at the top of the list.
    7/9 Be early - The last time I was upgraded, I was at the airport four hours before my flight. I simply asked if there was a seat in business class available, I was informed there was one seat but it hadn't "opened up" yet. When it did become "available" my name was already at the top of the list.
  • 8/9
    Make friends in high places - The airline staff that work in the frequent flyer lounges are the most likely to upgrade you. Befriend these people so when the time comes to ask for an upgrade, you already have a casual relationship to work with.
    8/9 Make friends in high places - The airline staff that work in the frequent flyer lounges are the most likely to upgrade you. Befriend these people so when the time comes to ask for an upgrade, you already have a casual relationship to work with.
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    Help out on a flight - If you give medical attention to another passenger on a flight, assist in the comfort of an elderly or infirm passenger, offer to be bumped to another flight because of overbooking, or help out an airline in any other way, chances are that airline will log a free upgrade for you next time.
    9/9 Help out on a flight - If you give medical attention to another passenger on a flight, assist in the comfort of an elderly or infirm passenger, offer to be bumped to another flight because of overbooking, or help out an airline in any other way, chances are that airline will log a free upgrade for you next time.

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You've probably heard many urban legends about how to get upgraded on an airline, the most prevalent (and false) of which is "dress like you belong in first class".

Lee Suckling has flown business class five times in the past year, but has not paid for it once. Here's how to turn left when you enter a plane instead of being stuck in monkey class.

 

Via NZ Herald