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Wouldn’t it be nice to be one of those folks comfortably situated on a plush throne at the front of the plane, enjoying a country mile of legroom and pre-departure prosecco?
Those seats aren’t reserved for the rich and famous. You can sit up there too—for little to no extra money.
8 ways to get a free upgrade on your next flight
There are a few ways to get a seat upgrade on your next flight—some of which are more foolproof than others. Here are our top eight tips.
1. Achieve elite travel status
Elite status is far and away the best route to securing free seat upgrades. Many airlines will provide complimentary upgrade certificates after you’ve reached a specific level of status, as well as proactively upgrade you during other flights for which you are eligible.
For example, to earn American Airlines, you must earn “Loyalty Points” (which you’ll receive from activities like flying on American, making purchases with American Airlines partners, and spending on an American Airlines credit card). Below are the seat upgrade benefits you’ll receive as you earn Loyalty Points:
| American Airlines points total | Upgrade/reward |
|---|---|
| 15,000 | Five Preferred seat coupons |
| 40,000 | Complimentary Preferred seats and Main Cabin Extra upgrades at check-in. Premium cabin upgrades when traveling both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines within North America as early as 24 hours before the flight (when available). |
| 75,000 | Complimentary Main Cabin Extra at checkout. Premium cabin upgrades when traveling within North America and Alaska Airlines as early as 48 hours before your flight (when available). |
| 125,000 | Complimentary upgrades on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines for you and a companion. Premium cabin upgrades up to 72 hours before the flight (when available). |
| 175,000 | Two systemwide upgrades, which confirm a one-class upgrade (for example, business class to first class) for one-way travel of up to three flight segments on American Airlines and British Airways. |
| 15,000 | |
|---|---|
| Upgrade/reward | Five Preferred seat coupons |
| 40,000 | |
| Upgrade/reward | Complimentary Preferred seats and Main Cabin Extra upgrades at check-in. Premium cabin upgrades when traveling both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines within North America as early as 24 hours before the flight (when available). |
| 75,000 | |
| Upgrade/reward | Complimentary Main Cabin Extra at checkout. Premium cabin upgrades when traveling within North America and Alaska Airlines as early as 48 hours before your flight (when available). |
| 125,000 | |
| Upgrade/reward | Complimentary upgrades on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines for you and a companion. Premium cabin upgrades up to 72 hours before the flight (when available). |
| 175,000 | |
| Upgrade/reward | Two systemwide upgrades, which confirm a one-class upgrade (for example, business class to first class) for one-way travel of up to three flight segments on American Airlines and British Airways. |
The list goes on. The higher your elite status, the better chance you have to be upgraded any time you step on an American Airlines plane.
2. Use an airline rewards credit card
First, they can catapult you toward elite status. Many airline credit cards offer status boosts, whether for simply holding the card or through annual spending incentives. You could find yourself with high-tier elite status without ever stepping on a plane.
Also, your card may offer complimentary upgrades as part of its ongoing benefits. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card makes you eligible for complimentary upgrades on flights within the 50 U.S. states—even if you don’t have Delta elite status. And if you do have elite status, the card will give you upgrade priority over those with the same level of status.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership| Annual fee | $650 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
at Bankrate
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a superb card choice for habitual Delta flyers who see value in receiving access to airport lounges and who can leverage the companion certificate to get a second ticket at a low price for your traveling partner. The card includes a few Delta related fringe benefits as well as premium travel and purchase protections.
Reward Rates
- 3xEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases
- 1xEarn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- 15% discount on Delta award flights
- Travel protections including accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
- Consumer protections including cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase and return protection
at Bankrate
3. Watch for sales & deals
To be fair, this isn’t quite a “free” upgrade. But it’s a comparatively cost-effective way to secure a fancy seat.
Airlines may run two-for-one sales when demand is much lower (generally during the offseason). They may also send email offers that allow you to bid on an upgrade a few days before your flight. “[F]or those of us who aren’t road warriors with 7-digit frequent flyer mile balances or a thick wallet, seat upgrade auctions are the ticket to flying in comfort and style – at a fraction of the list price,” says travel journalist David Yeskel, AKA The Cruise Guru, who spends almost as much time in the air as at sea. “Once you’ve purchased your seat…check to see whether the fare class you’re in allows upgrade bids. If so, you’ll submit a bid on the airline’s website for an upgrade via a blind auction.”
David suggests that travelers investigate how many open seats are left to help gauge their odds of success. “While the bare minimum bid may look attractive, it won’t get you anywhere. Instead, plan on bidding somewhere between 30-40% of the difference between the cost of your original seat and the cost of your desired seat.”
4. Ask at the gate
It doesn’t take much effort nowadays to be an above-average airline customer. By dressing smart and injecting a few pleasantries into your conversation, you can find yourself in good graces with a gate agent who could have the power to bump you towards the front of the plane. Don’t bank on success, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.
5. Report bad experiences to customer service
If you’ve got a legitimate complaint concerning your trip, you may be able to parlay it into an upgrade. This does not mean that you should manufacture an issue just to receive reimbursem*nt—but things like a broken armrest, a malfunctioning inflight entertainment system, or similar could warrant the cabin crew move you to a better seat or perhaps provide some sort of voucher for a future flight.
6. Fly solo
Flying with multiple travelers on your itinerary could get in the way of a free seat upgrade. Airlines may be more willing to upgrade someone traveling alone so as to avoid breaking up a family or group. If you’re traveling with a buddy and don’t mind sitting apart, booking separately could be worth it.
7. Take advantage of oversold flights
Airlines oversell flights all the time. In the instances when there are more travelers than seats, the airline will ask for volunteers to take a later flight. Incentives can include flight vouchers and a higher-class seat on the next flight.
8. Use airline miles
Many airline loyalty programs offer an upgrade opportunity by redeeming rewards. Each has its own particular rules, but you can likely upgrade your seat with very little (if any) extra cash. If you’ve got miles to burn, this is a great tactic.
As an example, Delta allows you to use miles during the booking process—but you can also decide to upgrade later. If your reservation is eligible for an upgrade, the site will show you a very self-explanatory “Upgrade with Miles” option.
The takeaway
Booking a seat in business- or first-class is a travel game changer. Just a few inches of extra legroom can make a big difference in your comfort level. Give these tricks a go, and you could find yourself in a lie-flat seat on your next international trip at no extra cost.
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