Free flight upgrades might sound like the thing of dreams, and while they are admittedly rare, it doesn’t mean they don’t happen. In fact, there are a few ways which anecdotally have found holidaymakers sitting in a luxurious class onboard, despite only paying for an economy ticket.
One traveller claims to have been upgraded to business class when flying with Qatar Airways, which was recently voted the “best airline in the world”.
The passenger shared their experience to Reddit and explained that there are three easy moves they use to secure an upgrade, but they also warned of a crucial faux pas.
While some experts might suggest approaching a check-in desk agent and asking if an upgrade is possible, the traveller urged others not to do this.
“Be polite and friendly,” they said. “Don’t ask for an upgrade. Let them offer it to you.”
They continued: “I had a second leg upgrade to business class flying first time with Qatar from Doha to Istanbul. My parents and four of their friends were upgraded from Dubai to Manila by Emirates. Both flights were in 2019.”
According to the traveller, in their experience, you are more likely to be upgraded if you are travelling solo.
“Don’t check in online,” they advised. “Line up on the counter next to the business class or first class counter, if they open it to other passengers, line up on there.”
The passenger suggests that this might better your chances of being bumped up into business class if there is a free seat.
“Travel solo,” they continued. “But if an airline has six seats free, they’ll rather give it to a sux-party on the same ticket rather than to individuals. If you’re travelling with kids, don’t even try.”
There is a small chance that if a flight has been overbooked, you might be the lucky economy passenger moved into a premium cabin. James Smith from Travel Lingual, claims that if a flight has been overbooked, the exact moment you check-in might be the deciding factor determining whether you are the passenger to secure an upgrade.
He explained: “Being selective about check-in timing, whether checking in early to secure a top spot on the upgrade list or seizing last-minute opportunities, can prove fruitful.”
However, in most cases, any upgrades are reserved for passengers who are frequent fliers or are members of loyalty schemes.
The Reddit poster backed this up saying: “Get on the airline frequent flyer program. Even if you’re on an entry-level tier, you’d have a chance.”
Airlines will typically reward passengers who fly regularly with them throughout the year rather than the once-a-year holidaymaker.
“Leveraging airline loyalty programs can be a game-changer,” added James. “By actively engaging with your airline across various platforms, including social media, you can position yourself as a valued customer, increasing your likelihood of being considered for complimentary upgrades.”