10 Ways You Can Upgrade Your Seat To First-Class!

Personalized service, free-flowing champagne, specially prepared cuisines by Michelin star chefs and enough leg room to stretch your tiredness away.

These are some things that come to mind when you think about first-class travel on an airline.

Flying first-class is a luxury, no doubt about it, but it’s often expensive and not worth the money if you are travelling a short distance.

But, you’ll be happy to hear that, like most things, there are some loopholes you can use to your advantage.

So, if you want to travel in luxury, follow these simple travel hacks that can help you jump to the first-class cabin for FREE!

1.Travel At Non-Peak Days

If you have a flexible travelling schedule, try to book your flight on a day when people are less likely to travel.

For instance, try to book flights during the middle of the week and fly during dawn or dusk.

First-Class seats are usually empty during this time and you have better chances of scoring an upgrade.

Also, if you travel on holidays such as Holi or Diwali, most of the seats on the flight will be empty and if the cabin crew is in a festive mood they will upgrade you to the first-class.

2.Arrive Early

Airlines encourage you to be at the airport 45 minutes before the scheduled flight departure.

But if you have some spare time on the day you’re travelling, reach the airport early. It will give you ample time to chat with the gate agent.

The agent will have no queue or angry passengers to worry about and you can sweet talk your way to first-class.

3.Join The Frequent Flyer Program

Be loyal to one frequent flyer program of an airline and you will see what wonders it will do.

It may seem costly at first, but if you stack up your miles with one airline, it will help you get free upgrades to the first-class in the future.

4.Book Through The Airline’s Website

Try to book tickets on your airline’s official website, rather than using online travel agents.

During check-in, the airline system will know that you have booked on their website.

When its time to ask for your upgrade, chances are you’ll be treated as if you’re loyal to that specific airline.

Also, airlines send huge discount offers via email to people who book their tickets on the official site.

5. Check Your Emails

Building on the above point, many of us don’t check the follow-up emails that airlines send, once we book a ticket.

Airline companies know well ahead of time that the flight is going to be overbooked and try to offer huge discounts via email.

Since they don’t send these offers to people who book with online travel agents, chances are you’ll be part of a small minority of people receiving these emails for your specific flight.

So, the closer an overbooked flight gets to departure time, the more offers you get including first-class upgrades.

6. Use Your Connections

Know the pilot or a cabin crew member who works with the airline you are travelling with?

If so, then use that connection for all it’s worth.

Airline employees get amazing perks which they can share with their family and friends.

7.Travel Solo

Since you’re just one person, the airline will have a much easier time moving you up to first-class than they will with a couple or a family.

If you’ve got a preference and are travelling alone, it’s worth asking about an upgrade for any empty seats that might still be available in first-class.

Travelling by yourself may seem lonely at first but all that will go away when you’re flying first-class.

8.Fly On An Occasion

Whether it’s your birthday or your anniversary, let the gate agents know about it.

With competition increasing these days, airlines want their guests to have the best possible experience.

You may have a very good chance of getting a free upgrade to the first-class if you travel on or around the time of your special occasion.

9.Dress Up Smartly

Leave the cargo shorts and tank tops at home. Dress as if you’ve reached the airport from a business meeting and have been waiting for the flight in the executive lounge.

Chances are slim, but if you dress the part, business suits have done the trick for many people in the past.

10. Try Your Luck

Don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade, of course they could always say no but what have you got to lose?

Dress well, be nice, talk sweetly and a “please” might just do the trick.

Can’t wait to experience the luxury of first-class?

Download the AirWhizz App and get real-time flight updates to track your flights on the move. So go ahead, travel in style and fly stress-free.