How to Get Your Airfare Reduced

How many times have you flown coach only to wish you were in first class? If you are like me, then probably every time you have flown! People constantly find deals for cheap first class tickets; however, with U.S. Airways, an upgrade from coach to first class on international flights is a flat, fixed fee of $500. To them it does not matter if there is one or ten seats open in first class, it is going to cost $500. Would you not think a major company such as them would, occasionally, downgrade the cost nearer flight time to keep customers happy? They do... if you know the right things to say.

On my most recent flight from America to London I inquired about the upgrade at the ticket counter where I departed from. Perhaps the lady did not realize I was flying internationally, but she told me it would only cost about $100 although I would have to get it done at the gate. Anyway that gave me hope of a cheap upgrade and was well excited for it.

Unfortunately, at the gate the price skyrocketed. When I had originally departed some six hours earlier there were still six seats available in first class. Once I got to the ticket counter not half-an-hour prior to the flight that number had gone down to three. While I was checking in I asked the cheeky fellow how much the upgrade would run me. What a shocker it was when he told me $500.

We stared at each other for a minute; I suppose he expected I was actually going to pay that much for the upgrade. Finally I said I am not paying that much and continued with my check-in. Quite upset with the news I took a quick hop over to the U.S. Airways Customer Service desk in Philadelphia Airport to see if I was being fooled. Surprisingly enough they said the flat fee was $500 too.

As a customer it is important to know that, in an industry such as the airline, no price is a flat fixed fee. Things get waived, people get bumped, and compensations are given all the time. Knowing this, combined with seeing another U.S. Airways international flight to Germany, I hopped down to their ticket counter to see if I could get a deal (for a flight I was not even on mind you).

It was a few minutes prior to their boarding when I got to the gate. The man there was quite nice, but he too said it would cost me $500 to upgrade my ticket. However, after finding two seats free, I did what I could to get him down in price. We could not reach an agreement on price-the lowest I got him to was $250-so I tried a different tactic instead.

People at the gate quite often go on the flight too. Using this information I struck up a deal with the fellow. If after the door to the plane closed there were any seats available in first class, then he would escort me to a new seat. Although the condition was I was not to receive any of the perks besides the new seat. That worked well enough for me!

It was now time to try it for my actual flight. Upon returning to the ticket counter the same prat was still the only one at the gate. I had hoped to get someone else that might be a bit more customer friendly. Regardless, it was worth a shot. Once again he stood firm at $500 and would not cut a deal at all.

Quite frustrated I told him of my escapade with the gateman a few skips down. All to my surprise he agreed to the same kind of deal! I do not know how and do not know why, but maybe thirty minutes thereafter I was being escorted through the curtain to first class.

So never give up with the airline industry. They are, try as they might not to be, a customer service oriented business. Have you ever heard the saying that the customer is always right? Put it to use! Make your voice heard; wheel and deal like there is no tomorrow. Eventually you will get one up on the business a