Curiously, while you might think that free travel has greater value than cheap travel options such as cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, upgrades are often valued more highly by savvy frequent fliers than free coach airline tickets redeemed with airline miles.
Frequent travelers often earn more miles than they have time to use. Also some frequent fliers idea of a great vacation is simply staying home vs. flying yet again.
Earning elite status is important to most frequent fliers. Such status entitles the holder to premium check-in and security lines, access to the most desirable seats, and most airlines offer unlimited free domestic upgrades to first class subject to availability.
Being upgraded is the prime objective of many frequent fliers. The challenge though is how to snag one of only a limited number of first class seats on each airplane.
The following are suggestions on upgrades:
Unless you are a very highly ranked elite flier with a given airline, do not fly the most popular airline out of your airport. By flying on an airline that does not have a large presence in the airport you are departing from you will be competing with fewer people for that upgrade.
To be upgraded to first class sometimes travelers have to be willing to connect vs. flying nonstop in coach.
Since United realizes that upgrading to first class is often problematic, its elite travelers are given free access to its premium economy section where passengers have a few extra inches of legroom. However, if you want the best odds of being upgraded to first class, United is not the airline to fly. United often offers fewer first class seats than its competitors.
If you will be flying small jets, be aware that not everyone offers first class seats. US Airways has no first class on planes with less than 100 seats. United and Delta have first class on its 70 seat jets. No one offers first class on 50 seat regional jets. www.cheapfares.com