The best time to ask for an increase in flight

Have to walk through the luxurious, spacious, and comfortable The bed is lying In the business class on the way to the economy is enough to trigger jealousy. But before you tap yourself into a small economic seat, elbow to elbows with your passenger friends, know there is a better way -and upgrading to a better fare class. Better yet, you can do it without spending wealth.

“It’s almost impossible for average traveler to get a free upgrade for today’s business or first class,” said Julian Kheel, founder and Chief Executive Officer at Edeshared with Travel + free time. The airline, Kheel, explained, increasingly monitoring the improvement. However, all expectations are not lost. “[It’s] Very rarely, but it occurs once -ly. “And understanding the best time and approach to asking for improvement can give you an advantage.

From finding out who is usually upgraded to strategically displaying your request, this is the spoon in the front of the plane.

Who is usually eligible to upgrade flight?

Frequent travelers and airline loyalists usually overcome the list of improvements. A large number of airline companies prioritize their status holder Frequent Flier Program For free upgrades for added economies or business classes. Airlines such as Delta, United, and America explicitly list their level of loyalty and matching qualifications, offering the most frequent members, the farthest travel, or spending the most tickets with the biggest chances.

However, there are some things that can make you more attractive to upgrades. If you have flight disruption, for example, the airline may want your butter with better deals. When the airline announces their flights are over, and ask if passengers are ready to take the flight later, this is the perfect time to Request both compensation and improvement.

As Kheel explained, wearing good clothes will not score you upgrade. “Wearing clothes or luxury clothing is no more likely to make you upgraded, though it looks like you may be difficult passengers to hurt your case,” he said. The only one -time clothing is a factor is if it runs Airline’s clothing codeWhich means the wrong clothing can make you start, but not upgraded.

How is it possible to score a free increase in flight?

Realistically, without status, scoring a free upgrade is difficult today. Kheel explained, “In recent years, airlines have worked aggressively to sell improvements from giving them, and even passengers with elite status have gained a bit of free upgrade today.” That doesn’t mean it never happened, but you shouldn’t depend on it.

“Your best chance of improvement is when there is still a seat left ahead after all the elite have been upgraded,” Kheel said. This means it is worth checking the door monitor, which openly lists availability. Even if you are not on the list, you can quickly evaluate your possibility by scanning the screen and then approaching the door agent to see what you have.

So, when can you ask for improvement?

Your request time is very important. Kheel recommends approaching the early door agent, ideally before boarding the plane.

The ” the dormitory process is the busiest part of their day, “he explained.” Try talking to the agent about the upgrade in the middle of the dormitory, or when they try to get the plane closed and rejected, it is not possible. “

Being polite when you talk to an agent is just as important. “As the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar,” Kheel said. “Scoring a free increase without elite status has a very long possibility, but if you are going to try, ask as good as you can. Speak some special events or reasons can also increase your chances.”

Once you are on the plane, your likelihood of improvement is basically zero. As explained by a flight attendant Reddit“In my airline, [flight attendants] is not allowed to upgrade [passengers] to the first class. Spoke with [the] The door agent or ticket agent while you check your bag. They are the ones who set the seat and can upgrade you. “

However, there is another chance to score the improvement if you are up: “If you are on the plane and something is physically wrong with your seat, such as a broken table or a broken tray table, it can also be a reason to ask if you might be moved to a better seat in front,” Kheel shared.

When should you buy an upgrade?

Buying improvement is the easiest way to get to the front of the plane. But even with this, it’s an important time if you want to get a good offer.

“Price upgrading is based on at least partially on supplies and demand, so if you look forward to paying for a cheap improvement, you can get an idea of ​​your chances by looking at your flight seat map,” Kheel said. If many premium seats remain open as your flight date approaches, the airline may lower prices to fill them. Instead, Kheel warned, “If most of the premium seats have been taken on your flight seat map, the increase in prices will only increase over time.

The point: Be sure to keep an eye on the flight as often as possible and check the upgrade price. Has the number you are willing to pay, and if it falls to that price, book before the seat is gone.

Should you bid up the improvement if you can for the best price?

More and more, airlines are now offering passengers the opportunity to bid for increases from buying them directly. This auction style method can provide significant savings. Typically, airlines will send e -mels that encourage eligible passengers to bid, often starting a few days before departure. These include carriers such as Portugal Water Tap, Aer Lingus, Etihad Airways, and Copa Airlines.

To increase your chances, submit your offer carefully. You may be tempted to offer the lowest offer, but putting one is a bit competitive that can often increase your likelihood of winning a seat, and you still don’t have to pay a full price for it. Remember, the bid is always gambling -no guarantee it will be accepted. However, if you’re flexible, it’s a great choice.