How to Get Upgraded to First Class

Many of us who have had to sit, crammed into those coach seats, have often dreamed of sitting in first class but have dismissed it because it's just too expensive. There are also those of us who have gone scouring the internet to try to find ways of getting upgraded to First Class without having premium status or frequent flyer miles because we don't travel every week or month. Much of what is written online, just doesn't work. Sure you can simply ask to be upgraded to First Class, you can tell the gate agent you're newly-weds, you can beg and plead and cry, and come in dressed like you just came from a Paris runway, and it just doesn't work 99% of the time.

And I'll tell you why. The airlines don't want to give their First Class seats away to people who aren't frequent fliers. They have customers who fly with them frequently and so they feel it's the best policy to give the few First Class seats they have to these people who fly with them so often. So does that mean that it's impossible to get upgraded? No, just a little difficult. If you have patience, and plenty of time to spare, you might just land yourself an upgrade to First Class.

The trick is to know "how" to land an upgraded to First Class. And what works and what doesn't work. Sure it never hurts to just plain ask. I always ask, but there are ways to go about asking, some that I have found work better than others. Besides being nice to the gate agent, I think that goes without saying, you have to ask the right questions. Just asking "Is there anyway I can get upgraded to First Class?" is probably going to land you a big fat "NO!" and a roll of the eyes, especially on an international flight.

You need to make the gate agent think you are doing them a favor. Often an airline sells too many seats on a plane. It's called "over-booking" and it happens frequently. They do this, becuase they assume some people might not show up. And this is often the case, until that is, everyone shows up. The trick is to check-in early, and when you check-in, ask the gate agent if the flight is oversold. Tell them that you are willing to give up your seat if you can be upgraded to First Class on a later flight. They will put you on the list to be bumped if the flight is oversold. This works like a charm, if the flight happens to be oversold and you give up your seat. In addition to getting upgraded to First Class, you are often given a monetary voucher for use at a later date. Why do they do this? Because, you just saved the gate agent a huge headache. When no one offers to give up their seat, she has to tell the last customers who checked in that they can't get on the flight. This usually doesn't go over well and it never fails the last person to check in is a pretentious jerk who wants to curse at the gate agent and throw a temper tantrum in the middle of the terminal.

Also, if you fly out of a smaller hub on a small regional jet, they are often not oversold per se, but sometimes wind up over-weight instead. This will also work as an excuse to get bumped to First Class. Don't wait for the gate agents to ask for volunteers, volunteer when you check-in! Also, if you try this on layover, don't forget to arrive at the gate as early as possible and approach the gate agent the moment they arrive to find out if the flight is oversold. Don't forget though not to be a nuisance. Wait for them to ask what you need and don't interrupt their work. Of course, this strategy requires that you have a connecting flight somewhere else, as regional jets usually don't have First Class and also that you have the time to get delayed and put on a later flight. This is a good reason to plan in advance, and allow extra time for you to get to your destination.

Another way to get upgraded to First Class, is if you happen to find yourself in a situation where your flight has been canceled due to weather or mechanical problems, you have two options. Call customer service on your mobile phone, and ask if there are any seats on a later flight, and if there are none as usually happens, ask if there are any in First Class. They will not suggest this to you, you have to ask! The same thing goes if you stand in line and wait for a gate agent. So many people will be ill-tempered, screaming and pitching fits at the gate agent or the phone rep, that if you are nice, calm and understanding, they'll be ready to upgrade you in a heartbeat. This has worked so many times, for both myself and family members.

Basically, if there's any way you can save the gate agent some trouble and a major headache, they'll be willing to reward your kindness by giving you that coveted First Class seat.