As important as most view cheap traveloptions such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, sometravelers remain very interested in upgrading their seats (i.e., cabin class)after purchasing airline tickets.
There is no one way to best land an upgraded airline seattoday, which means there are more opportunities for travelers willing to do alittle work.
In the good old days passengers who flew enough miles togain an airlines elite status tier used to frequently be given freeupgrades. However, with the advent ofsmaller first class cabins, fuller flights, and increased airline initiativesto sell prime seats, that advantage has been diminished. Today there are flights with as many as 20elites on eligible waitlists where not one person is upgraded.
Elite fliers loss may be a gain for others willing to putin a little effort and cash into securing a better seat. Some options to consider, according to KelliGrant, include:
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Purchasingan economy ticket and then redeeming miles to upgrade. Fewer miles are required to upgrade than toredeem outright for premium seats. Unfortunately that does not mean that such a transaction is necessarilya bargain. Airlines frequently charge afee in addition to miles required, and that fee varies by what fare class wasoriginally purchased. The cheaper theticket usually the greater the fee. Availabilityis sometimes vague, with some airlines terming an upgrade a request whichnecessitates checking back for a confirmation email.
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Payingcash to upgrade is sometimes a better deal compared to paying a combination ofmiles and cash. Airlines often reservemore upgrades for fliers willing to pay straight cash upgrade fees.
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Redeemingmiles outright for a business or first class seat makes upgrade finaglingunnecessary. Many travel experts havefound that redeeming miles for international business class tickets is clearlythe best value for those miles. Look forsaver options on less crowded flights, which sometimes require half as manymiles. Airline alliance partners occasionallyhave cheaper redemption options available.
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Biddingfor upgrades has become possible on a number of international airlinesincluding Air New Zealand, Etihad, and Lufthansa. It is important to bid strategically to notwaste miles. Forums at FlyerTalk andother sites have numerous posts from travelers who share how many miles it tookto successfully upgrade on a given route.
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Justpurchasing a better seat sometimes is wisest when the next best class is notthat much more, particularly for travelers who frequently pay for extra legroomseats and other add-ons such as free checked bags and in-flight meals. Sometimes for only a little more money, youcan purchase a seat in a higher class with extra leg room, better and freefood, and more entertainment options. Additional pluses sometimes include multiple free checked bags and/orpriority security lines.
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Yes,yet another strategy, properly played, is to intentionally procrastinate, andpay close attention as the flight you want approaches. Upgradable seats sometimes appear three tofive days out for travelers checking online seating charts. Airlines sometimes email offers to upgrade ormake a note of availability at check-in, sometimes at lower prices thanpreviously offered.
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