How to blag a flight upgrade

Want to know the tried and tested methods to get an instant flight upgrade? Read on and get clued up, up and away!

The methods below are recommended ways of getting the upgrade that you deserve on your long-haul flight. Planning is the most effective way to achieve your goal - if you take enough evidence to prove that you definitely qualify for their business class, and have, in fact been there many times before, you are already improving your chances tenfold.

Read on to find out how to max out your Business Class potential, without maxing out your credit card.

Firstly in order to stand a chance you have to look the part of someone who belongs in Business Class. Go to the airport in your best suit alone (airlines are very unlikely to upgrade a group or couple) with the ‘jetsetter’ look about you. If you have stickers on your luggage from previous business flights be sure to make sure the staff see these as you check in.

Another important factor to get you nearer the ‘aisle seat next to the window’ is to have paid full price for your ticket originally. Once the staff have seen an air ticket bought by a Business person, you will be distinguished from others in the line who bought cheap flights and may well get an upgrade.

Be as polite as possible and compliment the airline as well as the staff. Tell them that you only ever fly with their fabulous airline and that you do frequently. This is the time to bring out the trump card for getting your boarding pass stamped with the much sought SFU, or Suitable For Upgrade - your frequent flyer membership. (It is a good idea to sign up with a frequent flyer membership beforehand and make sure your membership number is noted when you book your airline tickets).

Frequent flyer miles schemes are great as you can accrue them simply by staying at some hotels, renting cars and by using certain credit cards. You can either then ‘cash them in’ for an instant upgrade, or flash your membership to get an upgrade by proxy.
Another effective way to upgrade your chances to get behind the curtain is to fly outside of normal business hours; the fewer people flying, the more seats are likely to be available.

One last method is one that usually gets any airline worried enough to find space in Business Class is this: mention - politely of course - that you have suffered before from DVT (deep vein thrombosis) previously while flying, and ask the staff if it would it be possible to sit somewhere a little more spacious?

If you are polite about the whole ‘embarrassing’ matter, most airline staff will find you an aisle seat next to the window without too much fuss.

There are no guarantees of business class luxury but websites like Cheap Flights will help you locate flights to a comprehensive range of destinations.

You can find out about all the hidden extras to expect with every major airline by checking out the handy ‘Airline Extras’ page on the Cheap flights website.

Get useful info on where to sit on almost any plane with Seat Guru.