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72 Comments
- brucealmighty, on 05/15/2009, -2/+64#9 tip: Don't waste your time with the first 8 and expect the airline to actually give you an upgrade for nothing or next to nothing. It just doesn't work that - heck, they won't even let you check a bag anymore without paying extra.
- nikki2300dk, on 05/16/2009, -2/+47I thought this comment was more useful than the whole article:
"I am a gate agent also. I guess we are all different, but, speaking for myself and every other gate agent I've ever worked with over a five year span, asking for a free upgrade is practically a guarantee to not get one. If we don't need to upgrade anyone, we can't/won't. It isn't worth our jobs. If we have to, we'll give them to elite flyers first, then if we have none on a flight, we might look for military, and sometimes it will be random. We don't have the time to check the OSI's on 400 reservations, so that tip is exceptionally useless." - JDLamb88, on 05/16/2009, -5/+49#9. Hijack the plane, then you can choose whatever seat you like, even the pilot's!
- yillip, on 05/16/2009, -1/+389. Be rich.
- DatDudeWiggs, on 05/16/2009, -2/+3811. Be hot...hot bitches seem to get everything
- Idiot900, on 05/16/2009, -0/+24I fly 60-75k miles a year (not much compared to some but enough to know a little about how things work) and am elite on one of the major American carriers, and consequently fly first domestically most of the time. This list is mostly garbage.
"Turn on the charm and ask nicely."
No. Elites on high fares get upgraded first when coach is oversold. Circumstances must be really, really exceptional (e.g. "honeymoon!" not good enough) for this rule to be broken.
"Let the ticket agent know if you are traveling for a special occasion-a honeymoon or anniversary-and they may honor you with an unexpected upgrade."
See above.
"Ask the ticket agent if they will add a code to your ticket"
I guess this means "ask the ticket agent to rebook you in a high fare class", which means you pay extra $.
"Ask the ticket agent about the cost of buying an upgrade."
On flights with nearly empty first class cabins, some airlines announce and sell these upgrades at the gate. I didn't need Divine Caroline to tell me that.
"Be willing to use your miles and upgrade certificates."
Well, no s--t, Sherlock.
"When you board the plane, if you see an empty first class seat ask the flight attendant if it is available."
Flight attendants are not generally allowed to upgrade customers on the plane. The gate agent can, but rarely will, and will need a better reason than "coach sucks". If your seat is broken and there is absolutely no other seat available, you *might* have a chance, but most likely first is full by this point and you will be offloaded. (It's illegal to put someone in a broken seat.) - zjbird, on 05/16/2009, -0/+23I was just at the airport where my flight was an hour after another flight to the same place at the same gate. There was this hot girl who asked if she could change her ticket from the later one to the one that was about to leave and the attendant (big fat guy) said it was perfectly okay. She asked to use my phone to call her mom and tell her to pick her up early, and I asked the guy if he could do the same with my ticket.
He pointed to a random "N" on my ticket and said that it meant I didn't have the ability to change my flight like she did. After the girl gave me my phone back, I asked if she still had the original ticket which she then showed me. Had the same "N" in the same spot he pointed to. I was discriminated against because I wasn't a hot girl with *****. - Ge64, on 05/16/2009, -2/+21buried for having last tip on separate page
- doctordbx, on 05/16/2009, -0/+11This never ceases to amaze me is the number of people that bitch and moan and try to haggle for an upgrade, from having severely bad backs to god knows what, they always want an upgrade.
Let me tell you something as others have stated above too, unless you're a frequent flyer with the airline you've got no chance of getting an upgrade. Most upgrades are done automatically before you even get to check in, and they sure as ***** asn't going to upgrade Joe nobody who isn't on the FF program.
The best way to get an upgrade is to pay for one. - imacmike, on 05/16/2009, -0/+109) Notice a massive fuel leak on your way to Japan.. Be sure to inform the flight crew before you go oceanic.
- stilesja, on 05/16/2009, -0/+9Exactly... Everyone seems to know someone who knows these people who get upped to first. You know who else everyone knows? Liars. I used to be Delta Platinum when I flew every week, and yeah, I got upgraded all the time. Its a platinum perk. If there are open first class seats they fill them up with platinum members. The only way to get upgrades is either a loyalty perk, or buy it with you miles. Anyone who tells you how to get upgraded for nothing, or that they know someone who did, is pretty much full of *****.
- sockpuppets, on 05/16/2009, -1/+9#9 Fake a seizure.
- XtheXlanternX, on 05/16/2009, -0/+79) Wear your military uniform. I've gotten extra bags checked for free, my seat changed to the one in front of the exit row where you get the extra leg room, and numerous other benefits :)
- drlha, on 05/16/2009, -0/+7100% true. I used to get free upgrades a few years ago when travelling on business, but the airlines have gotten good at giving upgrades only to those who buy or use miles to get them. Now days even if they do give you a free upgrade they're more likely to look at your miles status as they are your dress or politeness.
- tensaibaka, on 05/16/2009, -0/+7My wife and I got an upgrade (only to Economy Plus), but still it was the first time in my life I've ever been upgraded for free. We got to the airport and checked in 3 hours early, but still couldn't get seats together back here to Tokyo. I went and asked the lady at the gate counter nicely if it was possible for my wife and I to sit together, and she upgraded us to Economy Plus for free.
- Duffle, on 05/16/2009, -1/+710. Be sick. Some time ago my dad got a first class seat across the Atlantic because he was fairly sick.
- teamgwho, on 05/16/2009, -0/+6newsflash: ***** get you things.
have you completed your research study on what religion the Pope is? - benzzene, on 05/16/2009, -0/+6I don't fly nearly as much as you do but I seem to get upgraded rather a lot. I have a frequent flyer card but I still haven't got out of the lowest level, so I don't expect upgrades, nevertheless, I have been put in business class on:
Sydney -> Singapore (Qantas)
Sydney -> Bangkok (Qantas)
New York -> Hong Kong (United)
Tokyo -> New York (Cathay Pacific)
Singapore -> London (British Airways)
It really makes a difference on those long flights. I personally don't care about an upgrade on a flight of 6 hours or less.
I put it down to me being such a charming *****. - airwalkery2k, on 05/16/2009, -1/+7I always seem to get free upgrades to economy plus on United for some reason. Maybe nobody ever upgrades to those seats, or maybe I've just spent enough with that airline to be considered important. But the legroom isn't worth $50-100 they charge.
- guitmusic11, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5last point on second page=fail
- FearNLoathing, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5Most airline employees seem to be female, and most male employees seem to be gay (or at least they come off that way).
- Pentoast, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5I work at an airport. I fly standby. Unless you're going somewhere no one goes, almost all flights I've taken and looked at have like 8-16 people on standby and those usually get upgraded to first class if no one else does. Best of luck if you're just an average, every once in awhile traveler.
- FuZi0nDET, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5Two Words: Elite Status! That is the only way you're going to get a free upgrade plane and simple. Every once and a while I'll see a military person get a free seat in 1st class as they should. Other than that you pay or you get your ass in the back with the rest of the peons!
I know this because until I reached my elite status Delta didn't give a ***** how much I flew with them. I wasn't getting any free upgrades until I reached elite status with Delta.
If you want a ticket that is eligible for upgrade I'd recommend purchasing your tickets directly from the airline. A lot of the travel sites get you fairs that don't qualify for upgrades.
I've also watched what happens when you get pissy with a gate agent. You most definitely won't get your way and you'll be lucky if they don't call security and get your ass tossed out of the air port. They can do it for just about anything these days. - SamirGupta, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus ...
The view of upgrades from a agent's perspective... worth 100x the original article that was dugg (and contradicts most of its "advice"). - digghasnoethics, on 05/16/2009, -0/+5They seem to miss out the one that does work - complain.
The complaint has to be on a previous flight of course, but when they screw up be sure to write a real paper letter to the firm detailing the problem and making sure they have enough to identify you. The easiest thing for the complaints department to do is put a flag on your name that you should get upgraded next time as an apology. - ErickStevenson, on 05/16/2009, -0/+4I actually got lucky to get an upgrade to business class on my trip to Asia from New York. Our plane had a problem (something was leaking) so we basically missed our flight and they had us stay at a nearby hotel for the night, gave us food vouchers as well so it wasn't so bad. Then when I had to call for rescheduling me for another flight the person I talked to at customer service ended up giving me an upgraded seat to business class for the following day,no extra charge (NWA was the airline btw). Anyway that was the best flight I ever had but I wish I never had a chance to see what I was missing every time I fly coach =(
- arethuza, on 05/16/2009, -0/+4My wife, two year old son and I were sharing the middle four seats on a BA 747 from London to Vancouver with a young chap who didn't look too happy to be sitting next to us (understandably - I would look pretty sour in the same situation).
An hour into the flight our son puked for no apparent reason - not a big deal to parents but the poor guy looked horrified.
However, the flight attendant took pity on him and updgraded him to business and we got an extra seat to stretch out. A win-win situation if there ever was one. - LilletBlonde, on 05/15/2009, -2/+6At least the curtain is finally gone between the upper-class and the great-unwashed. FAA regulations from 911. But it's almost worse now that you can see the fine china and fully reclining seats.
- BlackVincent, on 05/15/2009, -2/+5I always try to finagle my way into a business class seat. It's only worked for me 1 time. 1/2 way through a flight the baby next to me turned into the exorcist and the flight attendant felt sorry for me. She said there would be no other business class perks, just let me sit there (which was good enough for me).
- ryanonfire, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2The only time I've known people to get free upgrades is when the airline ***** up (loses bags, overbooks seats, etc...). And if you have a relative who works at an airport. They usually know people and can get you free upgrades, which happened to me :D. I got an emergency row seat (lots of leg room) and priority tags on the luggage (waited literally 2 mins to get my bags).
- javadog, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2Good luck. With most filghts 90%+ full airline passengers that have have elite status (silver, gold, etc) don't always get upgraded. No chance of giving you an upgrade before them.
- LAmandingo, on 05/16/2009, -2/+4Another completely pointless article on Divine Caroline. If you believe any of this crap then I have some ocean front property in Ohio I would like to sell you. Cheap.
- smacksaw, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2True, this didn't work when it was posted on Digg before...and that was without the current extra fees.
- MikeMania, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2If you give up your seats for needy people they will upgrade you to first class. My parents did this on their honeymoon... supposedly.
- bobcrotch, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2Very true.
Also from my experience of traveling regularly for work you have probably a 70% chance (conjecture) of your flights not being screwed up, or bags being lost. It's really a crap shoot. I just pay the 35 dollars on longer legs of flights for economy plus at least. If it's cross country spend the miles for first class if you have them. It's worth it. - PleasantKiller, on 05/16/2009, -1/+3because we will do any of these other than ask for an upgrade...
- teamgwho, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2addendum to #8: being a blogger doesn't counter as helpful OSI. Might even be a negative.
- bobcrotch, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2it's generally 35 bucks per flight segment. But it is worth it because the regular seats are a lot smaller.
I've been upgraded to economy plus many times for free, too. - drlha, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2I've done this and not got upgraded, but they did give me a voucher for a free flight which was nice.
- canadiense, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2... be last on plane. Take bottle of water. Dump water on crappy seat, tell stewardess your seat is wet. If plane is full, you're sitting in business.
- aizayke, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2that's bull ***** man, i feel bad for you.
- drlha, on 05/16/2009, -0/+2The only time I've seen someone moved up to Business from coach by a flight attendant, the attendant was flamboyantly gay and the guy moved up was clearly someone he found hot. ;)
- bdbr, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1My guess is they HAVE to move you from a broken seat. The FAA has all sorts of safety regulations. But you have to really have a broken seat. And there's probably some odds that you'll end up in a middle coach seat.
- bdbr, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1Its not going to get you an airline upgrade, but there is some merit in #2. I started wearing slacks and dress shirts on a long trip to Europe, mainly because they dry faster than jeans and t-shirts. I was surprised at how much better service I received, so I started dressing that way on all trips. They won't treat you like a celebrity or a VIP, but they will treat you like you matter.
- inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+1Neither of you really understood my (quite straightforward) comment, did you?
Here, have my seat. - bdbr, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1Same here, and its always on short segments. Nothing like riding first class on Japan Air on the tiny hop from Seoul to Narita, only to go back to coach for the long-ass ride across the Pacific. If you're not going to live the good life, its best not to get a tiny taste of it!
- Halsfield, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1why do you hate the english language ?
- bradleyland, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1$150 for an upgrade!? I know it's a small airline, but AirTran first class (I think they call it business class) upgrades run $50-$80 at the gate, which is a bargain. I upgrade every chance I get.
- Halsfield, on 05/16/2009, -0/+1yea that was a much better post. more realistic and explains the point of view of the gate person.
- richi, on 05/17/2009, -0/+1Buried (inaccurate): the usual old wives' tales and wishful thinking.
The only way to get a "free" upgrade these days is to pay full fare, be an elite-level frequent flier, and travel in an over-booked cabin. -
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