How to Get a First Class Upgrade

Guide Note Tired of coach class travel that feels more like a Greyhound bus? This page will tell you how to get a first class upgrade.

Table of Contents

Newest How To Guides

Tips on dealing with difficult people

Great ideas for mixed drinks

Beat the cold of winter by making the perfect cup of hot chocolate

Need to save money? Learn how to spend less on food

All the information you need to make the digital TV switch

Introduction

  • If you're like most people, you rarely fly first class. And if you're like most people, you rarely will. However, it's not impossible to fly in first class without paying hundreds of dollars. All you need to know is your range of options, and all you need to do is perhaps cultivate a little bit of charm.

Step 1: Make sure your airline has a first class section

Enjoying a first class upgrade. Creative Commons photo by Jesse Gardner.
Enjoying a first class upgrade. Creative Commons photo by Jesse Gardner.
  • Airlines are making cutbacks everywhere - and now some are cutting out entire classes of service. Air New Zealand, for example, has done away with first class, and only has business and economy class. The list below names all airlines which offer first class on at least some routes, as of August 2007.

Airlines Offering First Class

Step 2: Purchase a Y-Up fare

  • Airlines have fares, called, among other names, "Y-Up" and "Q-Up", that start with the code for an economy fare but are actually first-class tickets. Technically, this isn't an upgrade; it's a way to get first-class tickets at midrange coach prices. Currently, these are only searchable for North American flights.

To find "Y-Up" fares on North American flights

  1. Go to FareCompare.
  2. Click on the orange "First Class Search" button in the center of the page.
    FareCompare
    Figure 1: FareCompare's First Class Search button
  3. If the information presented is not for your airport of choice, type in the name or airport code of your airport of choice in the "From" window.
  4. Compare the cost of the round-trip price of the Y-Up ticket to the walk-up coach price to see if you're getting a good deal.
  5. Click on your destination city.
  6. In the column for the month you wish to travel, click on the total price in the row for first class. This can be pretty difficult to find; consult the illustration below for guidance.
    Figure 2: Click on the area highlighted by the circle to select first class
    Figure 2: Click on the area highlighted by the circle to select first class
  7. Click on the day you wish to depart.
  8. Click on the blue "Select Return Day" button.
    Figure 3: Make sure to click on the "Select Return Day" button before you select your return date from the calendar
    Figure 3: Make sure to click on the "Select Return Day" button before you select your return date from the calendar
  9. Click on the date you wish to return.
  10. Click on the blue "Find Flights" button.
    Figure 4: Click on the date you wish to return followed by the "Find Flights" button
    Figure 4: Click on the date you wish to return followed by the "Find Flights" button
  11. Click the "Select" button for the flight you are interested in.
  12. You will be brought to a website that will allow you to book your flight.

To find similar fares on international flights

  1. These fares are not currently searchable via the Internet.
  2. Ask a travel agent to look for A, D, I or Z fare codes.

Step 3: Purchase an upgrade the day you fly

  • Some airlines will allow you to purchase an upgrade at the gate, or as you check in. This is done on a space-available basis. If they have several seats free in first class, the airline will make more money by selling upgrades than they will by leaving the seats empty.
  1. When you are buying your coach ticket, make sure it is a type that allows an upgrade. Not all tickets on all airlines can be upgraded.
    • Delta's L, T and U fares cannot be upgraded.
    • Only Northwest's Y, B, M, H and Q fares allow upgrading.
    • Full-fare economy tickets can generally be upgraded.
  2. If the flight has three classes (economy, business, and first), you will probably only be able to upgrade to business class.
  3. Ask at the check-in counter if you can purchase an upgrade.
  4. If this does not succeed, it may be worth asking again at the gate.

Step 4: Use miles to upgrade to first class

  • If you have enough frequent flyer miles, you can use them to upgrade a coach ticket to first class. Check with your airline; many have specials throughout the year that make these upgrades easier and more enticing.
    Creative Commons photo by Richard Moross
    Creative Commons photo by Richard Moross

Miles required to upgrade to first class

  • Air France 20,000 - 90,000, depending on length of flight
  • ANA All Nippon Airways 20,000 - 55,000 miles, depending on distance
  • American Airlines 12,500 - 40,000 miles; sometimes payment of up to $300 also required; upgrades only to next level of service; I and O fares and some Q fares are not upgradable
  • Asiana Airlines 20,000 - 100,000 miles; upgrades to first available from business class only
  • Cathay Pacific 20,000 - 60,000 miles, from Business Class only
  • China Airlines Between 20,000 and 60,000; upgrades from Dynasty and Dynasty Supreme Class to First Class only
  • Emirates 5,000 and up; only on specific flights; from Business to First only
  • EVA Air 20,000 - 30,000 miles, upgrades from Super Business to Super First only
  • JAL 40,000-120,000 round trip depending on distance, upgrades from business to first only
  • Korean Air 20,000 to 155,000 depending on route; upgrades from Prestige to First only; sleeper seat can only be obtained in some cases by upgrading from first class
  • Kuwait Airways 10,000 - 50,000 miles; upgrades from Business to First only
  • LAN Airlines 25,000 - 150,000 kilometers; upgrade from business class only
  • Lufthansa 15,000 - 75,000 depending on route; upgrade from business to first only; upgrades on certain fares only
  • Malaysia Airlines 20,000 - 100,000; upgrades from business to first only
  • Philippine Airlines 25,000 - 35,000; upgrade from business only
  • Qantas 5,000 - 60,000 miles depending on length of flight; business to first only
  • Qatar Airways 20,000 - 100,000 (round trip), Business to First only on flights with three classes
  • Singapore Airlines 15,000 - 70,000 miles; upgrades to first from business class only
  • South African Airways 17,500 to 45,000 miles; upgrade from certain Business fares only
  • Swiss 15,000 - 75,000 depending on route; upgrade from business to first only; upgrades on certain fares only
  • TAM 15,000 - 40,000; from business class only
  • Thai Air 35,000 - 60,000; Royal Silk Class to First Class only
  • United Airlines 15,000 - 45,000 miles, business to first class only

Advertisement

Step 5: Use elite frequent flyer status to upgrade

  1. The higher your elite status, the better your chance of getting an upgrade. Platinum-level flyers are given priority over gold-level flyers, who are given priority over silver-level flyers.
  2. The earlier you check in, the more likely you are to get the upgrade. If one upgrade is available, and two people of the same elite status want it, the passenger who checks in first will get the seat.
  3. Certain flights are harder to be upgraded on than others. United's SFO-LAX flight UA180, for example, is infamous for being packed with highest-level elite flyers. Pick a time of day when fewer high-level business travelers are likely to be flying.
    • Though agents are not supposed to release this information, you can also inquire if upgrades may be available when you book your flight.

Step 6: Get bumped

  • If the flight is oversold, you can volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for compensation and a place on a later flight. Sometimes, you will be upgraded to first class on that later flight - or even on the flight you were supposed to be on, if they fill coach and have space in first class. This is, however, a long shot.

Step 7: Be nice

  • There are many apocryphal stories in which people have received upgrades by either asking the gate agent nicely, or by generally being nice to the gate agent. The chances that this will work are low, but you have nothing to lose by being nice - and you'll probably make the gate agent's day a little better.
  1. Smile.
  2. Try to connect to the gate agent or check-in agent as a person.
  3. Be sympathetic, especially if the last person they dealt with was difficult.
  4. Don't take up too much of their time, especially if they have a lot of other people in line.
  5. If they offer to find you a better seat, make sure to give them your gratitude.

Conclusion

  • Just because you don't have a magical tree that grows money doesn't mean you can't enjoy the fruits of first class. Whatever you do, remember that airlines like to reward cooperative, pleasant passengers, no matter how you go about requesting the upgrade. If you play your cards right, the next time you fly, you'll have plenty of legroom, a free cocktail, and a comfortable and plush leather seat.

Resources on How to Get a First Class Upgrade

First Class Upgrade-Related Goods and Services


Have any great tips on How to Get a First Class Upgrade? Post your thoughts to the discussion board or email them to Ryan M: ryan at mahalo dot com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Ask a question about How to Get a First Class Upgrade


110 characters left.