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FOR some of us, flying business class is more a chance of getting a free upgrade than paying for a seat.
Arrive early
According to Skyscanner, rocking up ten hours early before departure before a flight could increase your chances of getting bumped up. However, if it backfires, be prepared to kill an immense amount of time at the airport coffee shop.
On the other hand, some sources claim that turning up late for a flight may actually work in your favor. If purchasing a ticket over the counter on an overbooked flight, there’s a higher chance of staff upgrading you to squeeze you in.
Be loyal
Raking up air miles or being a part of frequent flier programs offer your best chances of getting upgraded to business class. When airlines are overbooked, they look to upgrade their most loyal customers first.
According to frequent traveler Brooke Saward, she received a special invite to an upgrade on Emirates at the last minute for a heavily discounted fee only because she was a member of the Emirates Skywards program. It definitely pays sticking to one airline when traveling internationally.
Dress up
It pays to look the part
Swap out those sweatpants and flip flops for a pair of slacks and a briefcase. Airlines try hard to make business and first class seats an exclusive space for the elite, a league above the economy class, so it’s best to (or at least pretend to) look the part.
There’s no need to go out and buy a designer suit for the off-chance you get upgraded, but throwing on a cashmere shawl or linen jacket could immediately amplify your chances of being in the running.
Bid for an upgrade
Some airlines allow passengers the opportunity to bid for an upgrade, either for free or at a largely discounted price. Going back to the point of loyalty above, it pays to be on a frequent flier program or have a hefty air mile count.
For example, Etihad allows passengers to make an offer to be upgraded, and the lucky “chosen one” will receive a confirmation email if successful. Malaysia Airlines too offers the same deal, with the passenger determining the price of their own upgrades.
Fly on your birthday
Even if it’s not stated in writing, some airlines do offer discretionary birthday rewards. According to frequent traveler Mitch Berman, there have been reports of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific bumping up passengers on their birthdays.
However, it’s likely that birthday perks go hand in hand with other factors such as how busy check-in staff are, the time and day of your flight, and the number of empty seats on your flight. It doesn’t hurt to gently remind the check-in staff. And smile, always.
The post How to get bumped up to business class without paying for it appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com