Recently updated on July 1st, 2025 at 03:34 pm
A free upgrade at the airport is the golden ticket of air travel, but as an ever-elusive phenomenon to most, how do people do it? Here are our five top tips for how to get an upgrade on your next flight, from to early check-in to snappy dressing.
Choose your Dates Wisely
Contrary to reason, travelling at quieter times – when there’s a greater chance of free seats after take-off – doesn’t equate to passengers being given upgrades. In fact, it’s during peak travel times, when a plane is full or even overbooked, that an upgrade is far more likely; if a family needs to sit together, a single traveller (or maybe even a couple) might need to be moved to accommodate them, perhaps resulting in a first or business class seat. Peaks holiday periods like Christmas and the summer holidays are the optimum time for this, with the added benefit of fewer business travellers flying during this period.
Show your Airline Loyalty
The travellers who fly with the airline most frequently and passengers who have signed up for the loyalty programme are naturally more likely to get an upgrade. And if enough air-miles are covered within a year, an ‘elite’ flyer status will be awarded. Even if this doesn’t turn into an upgrade, these frequent flyer points can be used to upgrade flights, making first or business class far more attainable.
Get your Timing Right
Flight experts offer conflicting advice when it comes to getting the right timing. Many believe that by arriving exceptionally early, passengers are in with a chance of getting the very few first or business class seats that are available. And earlier in the day, when airline staff are feeling less pressure, they tend to give upgrades more readily, too. The conflicting advice is to arrive late for check-in, when an upgrade may need to be given if the flight has been overbooked. However, this is also undoubtedly risky, and there’s always the chance that airline staff will be less accommodating when put in this position.
Be Amiable
Without a doubt, passengers that airline staff warm to are more likely to be rewarded for their kindness. This also helps when asking for an upgrade at check-in; while admittedly this rarely works, it does happen on occasion. Upgrades are most likely to happen on request if the passenger has been caused inconvenience by the airline, by giving a good reason such as travelling for a honeymoon, or if there’s a genuine problem with the seat that’s been assigned. Upgrades often happen at the last moment, so it might be worth asking at the boarding gate when the other passengers are on the plane. In any of these situations, if aggression is shown getting an upgrade will be almost impossible.
Look the Part
When considering how much the other passengers in first class have paid for their premium seats, it’s easy to see why upgrades tend to be given to the travellers who look the most presentable, minimising any possible resentment from those who paid full price. For this reason, looking smart and well put together can be the difference between flying in first class or staying in your original economy seat.
Even if you don’t succeed in getting an upgrade on your flight, get first class treatment on the ground by travelling with Trafalgar.
Image credits: Cover photo © iStock / anyaberkut. Airport check-in © iStock / GlobalStock. Inflight © iStock / andresr. Getting your timing right © iStock / travnikovstudio. In first class © iStock / Predrag Vuckovic.