Flying in first class can dramatically improve any flight experience, and everyone wants to know how to get there without shelling out a fortune.
As someone who takes around 120 flights a year, I know all the policies and their exceptions and spend most of my time flying in this cabin for free. Here’s how to get upgraded to first class yourself.
Top tips on how to get upgraded to first class
Today, almost all first-class upgrades are selected by airline software and are based on financial factors like airline status and use of airline branded credit cards. For the vast majority of flights on major airlines, your ability to be upgraded is determined by these factors before you even arrive. If you want these coveted seats today, focus on the airline’s loyalty program or cozy up to someone else who does. Here are the surefire ways to get first class upgrades today.
Become an airline elite
Airlines automatically dole out first class upgrades to elite members of their loyalty programs, so the first step is to join their free program. As you accrue higher status, you’ll climb the ranks of upgrade priority and start finding yourself in better seats. Before joining a loyalty program, I was never upgraded without paying.
As a top tier elite today, I’m upgraded to first class on nearly all domestic and shorter haul international flights, and receive vouchers for upgrades on long hauls. Reaching the top tier of an airline’s program is not easy or cheap, but even lower tiers receive upgrades when there’s no one with higher status onboard.
Choose less popular routes or times
Because top airline elites gobble up first class upgrades first, it helps to select routes that are less popular with frequent flyers and business travelers whose companies often pay for these seats, leaving none available for upgrades.
When I fly from New York to Los Angeles, even I’m less likely to get a first-class upgrade, because there simply aren’t any unpurchased seats left.
If you can opt for a nearby airport that’s less popular, you’ll improve your odds. Even if you can’t change airports, it still helps to choose flight times that are less popular with business travelers, so avoid the earliest morning and later evening flights, and try flying mid-week when business travelers are often grounded.
Get an airline credit card
Airlines love doing business through their own branded credit cards and incentivize these programs heavily. Even as an airline elite, you’ll often be outranked by members of the same tier if they used the airline’s credit card.
These premium cards do come with annual fees, but they often come with other financial perks. Airline credit cards are also one of the best ways to get first class upgrades without elite status.
You can redeem the points or miles you accrue on these cards to upgrade your seats without forking out any extra cash. Additionally, some airlines offer steep discounts on first class upgrades to premium credit card holders. United Airlines is particularly generous with their discounts here.
Cash your airline miles
Even without airline-branded credit cards, members of free airline loyalty programs rack up miles or points with each flight on the airline or its alliance partners. While you may hope to save enough for free tickets to a dream destination, I prefer using these for cheaper upgrades after I’ve already purchased economy tickets.
Airlines often offer their loyalty members discounted upgrade rates when shopping with points or miles, and this helps me fly in premium cabins for free on a regular basis rather than spending all my miles on one pair of expensive tickets.
Buddy up to an elite
You don’t actually need to be the airline elite to get a free first-class upgrade. If you’re flying on the same reservation as an elite, you’re often eligible for the same upgrade the member receives. Some airlines will even grant you this temporary status even if you’re flying solo if an elite uses points or miles to book your ticket. This policy changes dramatically between major US airlines, so I only recommend attempting to take advantage of this by phone and asking about potential upgrades before purchasing. I’ve scored free upgrades for companions many times just by booking them on my reservation.
Additionally, anyone with airline miles or points can gift them to anyone else, elite or not. If you’re looking for miles to upgrade your ticket and you know someone who has some but isn’t using them, ask. And don’t be shy, especially with someone who has American Airlines miles. Unlike other major US airlines, these ones expire.
How to ask for a free upgrade on a flight
In most cases, this isn’t going to work on any major airline anymore. But there are some exceptions. Most of these rely on random circumstances, like a relatively empty plane requiring rebalancing or an oversold economy cabin with no elites onboard to upgrade. You can’t count on these and you can’t do anything to affect them, but there are some things you can do to improve your chances.
Make friends with gate agents
If you can find a reason to speak to a gate agent well before boarding, you may be top of mind if that agent later needs to rearrange your flight for any reason. This is where a smile and a great attitude can go a long way, and feel free to casually let the agent know you’re interested in an upgrade if any become available.
Most importantly, never be rude or aggressive with a gate agent. While they’re not supposed to override computer-generated upgrade rankings and are extremely unlikely to grant you a seat over a higher-ranking elite, it’s much more common to be removed from the upgrade list for bad behavior.
Dress well
US airlines don’t have serious dress codes for premium cabins anymore, and neither do most of the world’s major airlines. Still, if a discretionary upgrade situation arises, you’re unlikely to be chosen if you’re dressed a bit too comfortably. Those in business casual attire may be more likely to be targeted by the airline for a generous perk like a first-class upgrade in hopes of gaining more loyalty.
Travel solo
In these rare cases, the airline is often looking for a single person to relocate to a premium cabin, so groups are automatically bypassed. If you’re in a pair but willing to be separated, this is another fun fact to share with a gate agent in advance. After being passed over for an automatic upgrade in the past because only one seat was available, I now do this even as an elite so the agent knows I’ll take the upgrade even if I have to separate from my companion.
If you’re solo and willing to bump to a later flight in an oversold situation, it’s possible that the airline will offer you an upgrade on request, but unlikely today. Typically, you’ll just receive a voucher for airline credit now. Similarly, flying standby is unlikely to result in a first-class seat either. Another passenger will be upgraded and you’ll get the economy seat.
Make friends with flight attendants
There are very few cases in which a flight attendant can change your seat assignment once onboard, but it can happen, particularly if the plane needs to be rebalanced or there’s an issue with other passengers who need to be reassigned.
Smile and make eye contact when boarding and be polite throughout, and your chances of being chosen for an upgrade may improve. Flight attendants often have considerably more leeway with moving passengers to premium economy seating when spaces are available. If you’re not sure exactly what premium economy is, check out this guide to airline classes to see why you’ll enjoy it.
Put it to the test
Now that you’re armed with all the top tips on how to get upgraded to first class, book a flight and put them to the test. Use these expert tips, but also keep in mind that some things will almost guarantee you miss out on an upgrade, so avoid them if upgrades are your goal. Flying with a pet reduces your chances dramatically, as some first-class cabins don’t have space for carriers. Here are some additional dos and don’ts of alcohol on a flight. Finally, don’t miss our top tips for planning a future trip to help with your next getaway.
