There's nothing like getting more than you paid for and announcing that you "got bumped up." Of course, many airline passengers earn their upgrades. Loyalty programs, such as Air Canada's Aeroplan, offer automatic promotions, when available, to high-flying members, but for globe trotters who haven't achieved "platinum" status, or aren't travelling with their usual airline, there are ways to make the upgrade. Contrary to popular opinion, these methods have very little to do with luck:
Timing is everything
Complimentary, random upgrades are extremely rare. These days, it's all about logistics. Airlines typically allow for no-shows by double-booking some seats. So when almost everyone turns up, late arrivals are often bumped into a higher class. If you're travelling with carry-on luggage, arrive late to stand the best chance of being among the upgrade candidates. Be warned, though, that you could also get bumped off a packed plane.
The passengers who paid most for economy tickets - often business travellers - will usually be at the front of the bump-up line. So you can level the playing field by flying at unpopular times for road warriors: Saturdays, holidays, midday and late evenings.
Once you've made it this far, you may get that coveted cushy seat without having to jump through any more hoops. Keep reading, however, if you want to improve your chances.
Presentation
Let's face it: airlines don't want scruffy travellers cluttering their First-Class cabins. Dress neatly and be polite with staff. There's no harm in turning on the charm at check-in and with the gate agent. Make sure there's no one immediately behind you in line to spoil the effect of catching an agent in a kind moment. And if you usually fly from the same airport on the same airline, take the time to recognize and make small talk with personnel.
Also, if you're travelling with a companion, being assigned to separate seats because of overbooking can earn sympathy points with airline staff, who may then seat you together in a higher class.
Ask, ask, ask
Make requests for an upgrade all the way down the line, from when you book to check-in to the departure gate. If time allows, volunteer when an agent asks for someone to take another flight because of overbooking. You might be upgraded for your courtesy. To improve the chances of getting bumped off one flight and into the First-Class cabin of another, visit www.bumptracker.com, where travellers share information on under-sold flights they've volunteered to board.
Little white lies
Maybe you are on your honeymoon. Perhaps you have just spent 14 hours in the departure lounge on a layover. If so, make sure to mention it. If not, a wee white lie of this sort, while a bit cheesy, has been known to work wonders. Airline staff have heard every upgrade plea imaginable, but creativity and guts can work just as well as courtesy.
Another surreptitious tactic is to report to the Business-Class desk at check-in. Explain that a request for an upgrade should be noted in the computer system. And when it can't be found, your polite displeasure may yield results. It's sneaky, but it can work.
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated March 2010
