how to get an airline upgrade | budget travel tricks
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- some of you are asking how to score a FREE first or business class upgrade.
it's a bit more complicated than just asking.
in this video, i'm uncovering ALL you need to know about...
-why airlines give free upgrades
-how they choose people to upgrade
-things you can do to increase your odds of being upgraded
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I booked premium economy from London to Las Vegas. Asked the desk agent if there were any free upgrades. She said no. I said it's never happened to me before but one day I might get that magical free upgrade and we both laughed. I said thanks and left the desk. When I got to the gate, the agent put my ticket in the machine as I was boarding then it came out and she tore it in half and then printed me a new ticket. Business-class. SCORE! That was a very nice trip in a flatbed seat with a duvet. It's never happened since. But I ask every single time.
NICE!! That is awesome, nice work asking!
Were you a frequent flyer?
Dayum
Reddit Try not to lie challenge
@@mischasantos2802 cringe, once in a blue moon people get upgraded
Former ticket/gate agent. Being nice can not be overstated. Everyone is harried, especially us. Nearly everyone who comes up to the podium has a problem and aren't happy about it. It's a lot to deal with. It's our job....yeah yeah yeah. We're human, too. When you're constantly bombarded with negativity, it hurts. So be nice and you will be loved and get whatever we can give you!
Totally! I don’t understand why people are so mean to ticket and gate agents, flight attendants, etc… they are doing their job and it’s never their fault that the flight is delayed, weather issues, staffing, etc. I talk about that a bit in this Sunday‘s video too.
My mother and I were upgraded. So thrilled, as it was her last flight. The staff treated her well and were not aware she had cancer!
Aww, I’m glad her last flight experience was a good one.
Prayers and well wishes to your mother 🌸
I got a free upgrade on Qatar Airways from Economy to Business Class, because a daughter was sitting away from an elderly mother, I loved their union and my free upgrade from JFK to DOHA, felt super luxury. Lol 😂
Amazing! I hear Qatar is very fancy.
How come
luckiest you😂🍩
Happened to me like three times . Never got upgraded . So you must be the lucky one .
Hi, did you fly in the new Q Suite?
They are amazing!
Your absolutely right about how to go about upgrades. When I was a Regular Flyer with EVA from 2005 to 2012. I could usually ask for a Bulk Head in Premium Econ and get it. Once I was flying Regular Economy and at regular check in offered Premium Econ for extra $ since the Ticket Agent saw I usually fly Pre Econ. I respectfully said No. Well , at the gate the The Agent called me up and put me in Premium Econ - no charge. I'm always Very Polite to "All Agents" and dress very Neat and Clean - A Cut Above most passengers. It makes a difference.
Nice!!
i was once upgraded in Orlando with my flight back to Philadelphia by the pilot as i was wearing a Dallas Cowboys hat... Pilot was great called me over said to follow him..took me to the counter and said "upgrade this man because he's flying into philly with that hat on i want his last few hours to be enjoyable".
Hahahaha that is great!
These are great tips!! Delta usually upgrades me on one flight from Basic Economy to Premium Economy if I'm flying by myself, especially if using Skymiles redemption. Also, one time I was actually upgraded from Economy to First Class on a flight from ORD to YYZ with Air Canada. The plane was almost empty so the flight crew treated my ex-boyfriend and me (we didn't ask for this at all, lol!). It was such a great experience, and has made me more loyal to AC if I need to fly them.
Glad it was helpful! Awesome you've gotten some upgrades in your travels! :)
Delta hardly ever upgrades from basic economy but if you have status, they upgrade from main to comfort+ quite a bit on domestic flights. International just doesn’t happen.
I've been upgraded a few times without having to do any of those. One of those times I was coming back from the Gulf War and on the last leg of my trip, I was asked where I was coming from with normal chit chat and I told them from Turkey. A few minutes later she came back and asked if I would like to move up to 1st class. Of course I would. Thanked her and the rest of the crew for making coming home that much more special.
Wonderful! Thank you for your service.
I got upgraded to business class at least twice now and it was a total shock. Both times it happened as we were boarding. When the gate agent scanned my boarding pass it made a different buzzer sound than the person before me and the agent said"step to the side" sir! I thought I was in trouble and then she tore up my boarding pass and handed me another with a lower seat number YES!!!! I knew I got upgraded right then!
Amazing!!!
When I was in college I got upgraded from economy to first class for JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale to SFO, the lady at the desk mentioned she saw how long I had been waiting since the flight was delayed and I’m one of those who doesn’t wait last minute to get to an airport. So out of pity she gratefully upgraded me, that was my first time flying with them and sad to say I haven’t flown with them since. It was a nice experience though and I appreciated it a ton!
That’s awesome! I love JetBlue.
Ms. Jess I just came across your post and channel. I found your post to be spot on. I wasn't aware of the possible penalty to an employee of an inappropriate upg. I have flown lots across the Pacific in long haul 747's and in transcon 767, 757 aircraft. As a disabled tall traveler I always appreciate the gift of an upgrade. I look forward to reading your channel. Cheers
Thanks for your kind words :)
I was getting upgraded 15+ times on international routes, mainly LAX-MUC/FRA and vice versa. In my experience all your statements are spot on. 1) upgrades started to happen as soon as I became a frequent traveler. 2) Once flew back from MUC to LAX. Was booked on Eco, checked in 24h in advance in person to get a seat with a lot of extra leg room. When boarding, someone was sitting on my seat and he showed me a boarding pass with the same seat assigned as mine. Explained to purser that I just had knee surgery and came 24 hours in advance to the airport to secure this particular seat. After a couple of minutes she came back and said, that she has a seat with a lot of legroom and I followed her to my new seat in business class. 3) got upgraded a always from business to first and from eco to business, from eco to permium eco, but never from economy to first. 4) Checked with the agent if a seat in business was available, because it was my birthday, but did not receive a complementary upgrade. Had to use points. 5) However, i got upgraded to business 3-4 while traveling with my wife.
Nice!! Thanks for watching :)
Some the same for me ..most of my flights were with EVA from SEA to MNL Business class and as i passed through their frequent flyer levels i noticed lots more upgrades ..at gold level i would ask the gate agent and they more often than not would upgrade me...once i reached Diamond i no longer need to ask gate agent would just offer it to me...
For international i always fly Business ..for domestic USA i usually fly coach...
BTW in the hundreds of flights i have taken and seen people upgraded from Coach to Business or Business to First ...99% of the people were dressed nice..whether this plays a roll or not i do not know but first impressions with agent and all....
Paying full price helps. A friend was on a flight to Europe that was mostly empty. There were enough seats in first class to move every coach passenger up. And every coach passenger was given a first class seat for the eight hour trip, except one. When someone asked, they were told that the reason the one passenger was left in coach is because she bought her ticket through a discount website.
That’s a great tip!
but sometimes the price difference of paying the full price is just so significant it's better to save hundreds of bucks than take the slim chance to be upgraded
I just want to give props to the foreign carriers that recognize a crew badge and give complimentary upgrades without asking.
Totally - heroes!
I almost never fly, but I travel with a service dog.
Last time I flew I got bumped to help make room for my seizure alert dog.
I did not ask. They pulled me aside and put me in a roomier area.
It was such a pleasant surprise!
Thanks United!
That is wonderful! I will say I have had great accommodations made at no cost from United!
This isn’t an upgrade but this July I was flying from DXB-IST-JFK on a business class ticket. Long story short I ended up missing my flight from IST-JFK. The ticketing agent was incredible and waived the entire cost of having to purchase a new business class seat (which was over $4000 USD and has to be paid if a passenger misses their flight at no fault to the airline) During the pandemic this gesture was everything and I was not a frequent flyer with the airline or dressed super nice (I had just come off a red eye flight) I of course was polite but expressed my concerns when it was suggested I might have to pay the $4000 for the seat since it was the last business class seat and it was only hours from departure. I thanked the gate agent by slipping him the remaining cash I had on me which unfortunately wasn’t much as I usually don’t carry cash for safety reasons. Being kind can get you far, and sometimes it can save you thousands.
Great story! Thank you for sharing, glad you got back to your destination safe and not totally broke.
Got upgraded from eco to first once . I was assisting my mother with her separate flight (because it got delayed by 7 hours and she was new to the country ) and I ended up missing my flight by 30 secs ( door closed as I ran up ) and I had to stay in the airport until the next morning so the guy bumped me up …I was pretty happy
Amazing! A well-deserved upgrade, that’s for sure!
I really liked your video. Most videos I see on little upgrade hacks for hotels, dining etc alot of people say to complain about something or demand what you want and I really don't like those tactics, but decided to give your video a chance and I'm really glad I did, you were very nice and explained how to do it without being rude, selfish, or greedy. Thank you very much. Never flown but wifey and I have been planning a trip for a couple of years now and I've been doing research over those past couple of years so that way I have an idea of what to expect. We are only going to Florida so not a very far trip but I have never left California or gone anywhere that I couldn't easily reach by a cheap bus or train, so for me it will be huge.
Yeah, I don’t like complaining about something unless it’s REALLY bad. Ooh, how exciting, enjoy your trip!
I have heard multiple flight attendants (as in at least three or more) say that dressing like you belong in Business or First DOES matter. Even if someone is a frequent flyer with that airline, shorts and flipflops probably aren't going to cut it.
Makes sense to me!
I was flying on one of 2 planes back home from a d/Deaf conference in Kansas and just dressed nice but not in a suit or anything. I am a very polite person. So perhaps a combination of things lent to my favor. I have flown many times as well, always economy or coach. I was bumped to business class. The extra leg room and more snacks, plus one a more comfortable seat as well was so wonderful. I made an ASL vlog as soon as I landed to tell everyone what the airline did. I doubt I will ever be that lucky again.
That’s so awesome!
Very helpful! Thank you. Please keep your videos short and sweet. This video is short and sweet. It gets boring if it’s long. ❤❤❤
Thank you for watching Kelly, glad it was helpful ❤️
I book coach; however, I usually get an upgrade to first class for about $100 just by asking if there are any empty first class seats they want to sell. The last three times I've flown have been first class for just $100 extra. Great deal!
Nice!!
@Martha Hurdcall Do you ask during boarding or earlier?
When is the best time to ask?
I was upgraded just before the flight, does not work a day before. However, I am absolutely convinced it all depends on the airline staff. I was upgraded when I just had a bad back, but that was refused , when I was flying in almost critical condition. Long story.
Agree!
Great tips Jess! I've never had a free upgrade, but I have had airlines offer a discounted upgrade on day-off flights.
Branden Stewart I’d take that! 😂
I actually got a free upgrade once. I was going to a job interview in DC and asked if it was possible to get a seat with a bit more legroom or something as I had to get some work done on the plane ride. The guy quoted me a price and I politely declined. I didn't ask for an upgrade per se...in fact, I don't even remember if I even asked for extra legroom. I just said I needed a quiet spot to work, I think. But either way. I didn't want to upgrade, because I had to pay for the flight myself. Anyway. I go to the bathroom and then I come back ad sit down and the guy comes over and hands me a new ticket. I think he said something along the lines of, you know, don't tell anyone. And it was a lovely flight.
The other time it happened was accidental. I was flying El Al from Tel Aviv to New York and I had to fly to Tel Aviv in a middle seat. I politely asked the gate agent if there was any way I could get an aisle seat. She said she would look into it and to double-check in an hour. I came back and they had an aisle seat for me. Turned out to be a bulkhead seat in what I later found out was economy plus. Sometimes magic happens.
@@GeekyKaplan oy vey!!!
The honesty in the first minute got a thumbs up!
:) Thank you!
I’ve been upgraded 5 times, usually because of an airline’s mistake (which rarely happens). The best time was a flight from JFK to LAX. There were mechanical problems with our plane and we got shuffled around to 4 different airports leaving the east coast before not getting to leave that day at all. They did put us up in hotels and gave us food vouchers for dinner and breakfast, but by the next morning there were so many angry travelers trying to get home, chaos ensued. I was in no particular hurry, so I just bided my time and waited to get to the counter. The young lady looked so flustered, and I felt sorry for her. I told her to relax, take a breath, and that I was not going to yell at her. She got herself together, we made polite conversation, and she was able to smile. She upgraded me to 1st class as a thanks. I guess sometimes it just pays to be nice!
It really does! That’s awesome!
Indeed
It's mentioned in the video that some airlines may almost discipline their staff for attempting to take upgrade decisions upon themselves.
It could be that airlines, in an attempt to incentivise passivity amongst customers at times when the airline hasn't necessarily earnt it, opens up the decision to greater employee initiative during high disruption .
@@artgreen6915 Ok. So what’s your point???
I work for an airline and the last part about asking for free upgrades is so true, whenever I get asked that I immediately say it's full, even tho there are seats still available 😂😂
😂 Savage but fair, I totally get it!
Back before I retired I was a pretty frequent business flyer. I got used to being upgraded and almost expected it. After retirement my status dwindled away. However I had gotten so used to first and business that I'd rather not travel than fly in economy.
So now I just pay for 1st or business class.
i don’t blame you! Thanks for watching :)
Nice that you have the money! if I had to pay for first or business class, I would be able to travel once every ten years or so.
@@SuzanneU Haha SAME!!! Same with luxury hotels. Coach and 2 star hotels for me :)
@@SuzanneU Sad but so true for many of us !
I've only ever been upgraded three times in my life. Twice when flights were overbooked and I volunteered to be bumped. Vouchers for a hotel room, meals, taxis, and 1st class upgrade - why not?
But there was one horrible January when a storm was engulfing half of the US. My ex was getting agitated at the counter but I guess I said some things to both him and the agent that made her decide to go a further than what any traveler could or should expect. She doesn't control the weather, the flights, or how people respond to stress. She was as stressed as every traveler she had to deal with that day. She ended up finding two seats in 1st class on a different airline that was currently boarding. She had our luggage pulled, had a driver take us to the other terminal and called the gate we were headed to let them know to allow us to board.
It got really fun when that second airplane had a mechanical issue! It took hours longer than anticipated to reach our destination but we ended up having a blast with the other passengers and the crew members on that flight.
Hahaha nooo to mechanical issue but that’s so awesome you were in first class for it! Sounds like a fun flight! Thanks for the story :)
I liked the way you suggested asking about if the flight is full. Very diplomatic .I once was upgraded from economy by mistake to business .I was sitting next to a frequent flyer .Both our screen were not working. After the first meal was served on a 12 hour flight we were given seats in business in different areas of the cabin. The stewardess came to me and said Mr Johnson. No I replied. Confusion was written all over her face. This was the name of the frequent flyer. Now I was in the seat they left me there for the rest of the flight.
Lol! That’s amazing! Thanks for watching James :)
Good video. I fly frequently alone, am not a slob, and I'm polite. NEVER been offered an upgrade. I've inquired about upgrades in which I could have received if I was willing to spend a lot more $$$.I'm not doing the give workers chocolate or a gift thing. It weirds me out when you don't know someone.
It's a game of chance, that's for sure. If you ever fly Norwegian, you can "bid" on an upgrade, and I've known people who have lowballed on flights that aren't full, and gotten upgrades to first class for about $50. I've tried it once but it was a full flight so I didn't bid high enough, but definitely worth trying.
Once I got an upgrade to Turkish Airlines' business class on my flight from Istanbul to Jakarta. Was wearing my university hoodie and a pair of jeans, so I wasn't 'dressed up' or anything like that. However, I was traveling alone (and I believe I paid a full price for my trip lol, no discounts there) and one important thing that I believe got me the free upgrade was the fact that I boarded the last. There was a big group of people traveling together so I just kind of waited until they all went (didn't really want to queue with them as they were pretty noisy). I was literally the last one and then they gave me the seat no. 1 on the plane :D Such a nice experience.
That’s so awesome!!
This is informative! Thank you Jess! Will definitely use this hack on my next travel. Can't wait to use my Nomad Lane Bento bag!
You’re welcome!
I loved that creepy "CAN I HAVE A FREE UPDATE"! :D Made me lol, and I had to watch that again.
Hahhaha! Glad you liked that, thanks for watching!
Excellent content and delivery! New subscriber. ❤️
Thank you!!! 🥰
In 2007 while travelling to the Bahamas from London we got a free upgrade to 1st class because we were on our honeymoon, we didn't even ask for it aswell. It was Virgin Airlines 😀
How did they know you were on your honeymoon?
@@Moonzie13 they asked us, 😁
Love that! What a great experience. I love Virgin.
BE NICE. We arrived @ IAH from Panama City Panama & a big line of storms landed on Houston - all night - so everything was cancelled. Weather probs do not get you a free hotel but we got in line (frequent flyer & were in 1st - free upgrade). The poor agents were slammed. I asked if they could suggest a nearby hotel - she called (& was on hold a long time) . I saw how frustrated she was - I keep individually wrapped mints in my backpack - so I pulled out a handful. Next thing - she gives us toiletries (free) and got us a reducton on the price.
Nice! Kindness is the best policy
I Love You!!! Seriously though, thanks for the information...
Happy to help - thanks for watching :)
We were flying Cathay Pacific, Adelaide Australia to Manchester UK return. We booked premium economy which was very comfortable on our flight inbound from Adelaide to Manchester. I decided to pay $100.00 for each of us to join their frequent flyer club Marco Polo at the basic level. The reason I did this was the premium economy cabin has only about 24 seats. Being a bit of an aviation geek I knew if any leg was over booked they would bump people from economy to premium economy and premium to business. We were upgraded to business from Manchester to Hong Kong which is a 12 hour flight, very nice. During the flight I asked the business class cabin manager if we were upgraded because we were the only Marco Polo members in premium and she said yes. Because we were appreciative, friendly and talkative she really looked after us more so than most of the passengers in business! Best $200.00 I've ever spent, trouble is now my wife wants to book business for our next holiday!
Brilliant! Hah, yes, easy to get accustomed to that lifestyle! :)
Flying as a solo female from Manila to Istanbul on Qatar Airways, my seatmate fell asleep with his head on my shoulder on the first leg to Doha. This route gets a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers as passengers and I kinda have a soft spot for them so I didn't want to just wake him up rudely. An FA came and asked if he was with me, I might have smiled at her awkwardly and said no, but it's alright. She woke him up, my seatmate apologized and I said it was fine. Upon exiting, another FA asked if I have a connecting flight and asked to see my ticket. When the desk attendant gave me the upgraded ticket, I asked her why me, she said flight is overbooked but that I must be a frequent flyer but it was my first time flying Qatar. I did join their Priviledge Club and booked the ticket from their site. But ultimately I think I was chosen because I wasn't rude to that guy. So, in short, just be nice.
Great story and motto! Be nice ❤️
I got upgraded from my flight from London to L A,from coach to business because the flight was empty,that’s probably because the cabin crew didn’t want to have to walk all the way down for 1 passenger.
Awesome!
Story time. I was flying on a long haul with Delta and I was booked for coach. I made my way to the gate and took a seat. I was quite heavy during those days (not heavy enough to spill over in the seat but classified as morbidly obese). A guy and his wife sat near me (the guy was drunk) he looked at me and then looked back at his wife and said loudly "how much you wanna bet we're going to be stuck besides this fat woman over here!" I was too embarrassed to look over at them but instead, I felt tears trickling down my cheek. I had just buried my mom who died abruptly of cancer (57 years old). Apparently the ticket agent at the desk must've heard the loud outburst. She summoned me to approach the counter and asked "ma'am may I have your boarding pass?" Me...confused but I give it to her. A few taps in her computer and she upgraded me to first class. She whispered " Board in group 1 and I hope you have a better day! I was stunned!!
This happened in 2009 but since then I've always flown business class or first class and never looked back. Initially, it was for the wider seats but I ended up losing 160 lbs over the years and will continue to fly upgraded. I thought about this kind-hearted Delta agent often and promised myself if I saw her again I would give her a bear hug. Well guess what I saw her again at Atlanta Hartsfield and even though she barely remembered me...she said..yeah that sounds like something I would do. 😊
That is incredible!!! I love this story. I’m sorry you had to deal with that jerk but I am glad it had a happy ending. ❤️
First - congratulations on the weight loss!!!
Secondly - What that gate agent did was amazing! Here's a little secret from a former airline employee [me]: Every employee with the airline has access to a passenger's trip info, and anyone with access can add notes to it - and they also have the capability to change certain things. That said, you can be sure that the drunken slob was likely not given the best of service .. and if he had a connecting/return flight, he likely could have found himself eating some disgusting 'bland meal' as they're called, or suddenly had his seat changed to a non-reclining center seat. Karma is a B*tch, especially when you're flying!!
@MD B Thank you! It was such a low point in my life. I was even on the border of considering suicide. A few strokes on a keyboard restored my faith in humanity. Once he and his wife boarded the airplane they walked past me and he looked astonished that I was sitting in first class, it made me chuckle a bit. You're correct, Karma is a B****!
🤗
@road jess traveled Yes! Thank you so much!!
@@AnnnnnaQ I am so happy you chose life!!! I was at the same point before I had weight loss surgery - for every one person who does NOT judge based on something as simple as weight, there seem to be 3 who DO. And I am so glad this POS got to see you sitting in First class!!! :) God bless you always Anna Q!
My ex husband and I got upgraded from coach to business on a flight from Lisbon to nyc. All I did was ask. I was at first denied by the employee at the desk but as we were about to sit down in our seats, the pilot came back and offered us 2 free business class seats. We weren’t frequent flyers or anything like it. Just got lucky I guess but it CAN happen. So it never hurts to ask
Awesome! You're totally right - the worst they can say is no!
@@sadafrehman9107 LOL def before
What is your reason for asking for an upgrade?
Enjoyed this. Tbf you’re quite funny 😉💥
Thank you, glad someone understands my humor 😃
I only got upgraded once to the extra legroom seat in economy once but that was already nice
Nice!!
Thanks for sharing this information.
Happy to help - thanks for watching!
I have a friend who flies home to Germany a couple times a year. He's almost seven feet tall and can't possibly sit in economy seats without a very painful flight. Somehow, he gets upgraded every time he flies. They feel sorry for him and put him in biz or first. I never get that lucky, I have to use points for upgrades or flight awards when booking better seats.
interesting!
Lol. I love your honest disclaimer.
Heh, thanks for watching!
Once I was travelling as a group of 6, all college kids just in our sweatpants and hoddies and all 6 of us got upgraded from economy to business. None of us were frequent flyers so we must have just been lucky I guess
Lucky indeed! That's very rare!
Wow ! What was the reason they upgraded?
Didn’t happen.
Jackson 5 ?
A data point. My success rate precovid was about 30% after asking and I was offered an upgrade once without asking. Be polite of course.
Nice! 30% better than nothing! :)
I got upgraded to business class from premium economy on my first ever long haul flight (Paris to Hong Kong) - It was an amazing experience but it has meant all subsequent flights feel a bit disappointing!
Ha I totally get that!!! Cool experience de though! Thanks for watching Sam :)
I got upgraded because I was carrying my wedding dress on the way to my wedding. They asked if I was traveling alone and I said yes lol. I was traveling with my mother and sister who were bitter AF when they realized I was sitting in business class.
Haha! you deserve it on your big day!
Interesting and informative video 👍
Thanks! I appreciate you watching and commenting :)
Very interesting thanks! I don't fly all that often, and never been offered a real upgrade, but on two occasions I've been asked to sit in an exit row, which has the extra leg room. On one flight I was asked at check-in. On the other flight it was minutes before boarding. They have to pick people who are reasonably fit, and able to open the doors over the wing. So the airline staff looked quite pleased that they had chosen me!😀🤣🤣
I do love an exit row!
I had 2 upgrades, one missed, First I got there early and dressed nicely I was driviing solo, I was very pleasant as always, I paid full price from the actual airline, they just upgraded me. A 2nd time a woman was walking around and looking at people, then she looked at my wife and thought she was on her own and asked, she said no, person replied, oh pity I was going to offer you an upgrade
my wife was smartly dressed BTW and we were again very early, but 3 person fam, so not going to happen
Awesome you got upgraded when traveling on your own!
Bummer they couldn’t upgrade your whole family though.
So I hadn't flown on an airplane since I was a child, I have anxiety and hate feeling cramped. I'm not obese but not tiny and I was stressed out about whether the seats would be too smalll. I purchased 2 cheap seats just in case, if anything to prevent feeling embarrassed or squished. I called and asked if I didn't end up needing the second seat if I could be reimbursed for it. Long story short, I think because the plane was overbooked, they upgraded me for free to first class and also refunded my 2nd seat so I only ended up paying for the original 1 seat and got to sit in first class with plenty of space. I'm sure they were happy to do so since there were a lot of stressed out angry people and I was able to give up 2 seats side by side.
That’s great, I’m so happy that you got that experience! :)
I got upgraded in a group 4!
NICE!
that was excellent and real
Thank you for watching and the kind words, Simon!
Finally a video that tells the truth, frequent flyers of an airline will always have dibs, the airline wants to make sure they keep their loyal frequent flyers very happy so they keep flying with them. Simple. And yes, the cheaper the ticket, the less likelihood you'll get upgrade it.
Thanks for watching!
Has nothing to do with doubt attendants to pick. There is another reason why they upgrade it's because they want to balance the plane out. Think of it as a teeter-totter, they want to balance the plane out as best as possible. So in the month of February for example, it's extremely slow for the airlines. And they have no one sit in the middle seats as well because that month very few people fly.
That may be true but there are many reasons people get upgraded and I talk about a few other reasons in my video. There is no blanket “this is why it happens all the time.” Thanks for watching!
Carry lot of $50's with you and slip one to the check in person, they will spend some time looking for an upgrade and if they find you one, they will let you know, if not they will hand it back and say something like "I am so sorry there are no seats available in First class, but I could get you into Business class if this is ok" cough cough and this is the cue for you to hand the 50 back... Works for me I would say about 50% of the time...
This sounds like it's out of a 50s movie.
@@roadjesstraveled it works tho
Works for me too
50 percent of the time all the time 😂
@Steven M lmaoooo did it work?
@@magicman9321 does it actually work because i might literally try it
I'm traveling with an airline in a couple days on a longer (7hr) flight, and I hold a branded credit card from that airline, and am a rewards member with them as well, so I've got that going for me. I just sprained my lower back and have been in massive amounts of pain - but I still feel a bit shy to ask about potentially being upgraded, and don't want to come across as entitled, because I'm sure there are lots of other people with muscle/joint injuries in economy as well.
I had thought about trying out the seat bidding to earn an upgrade, where you enter your bid for a certain dollar amount for an upgrade, but have never done this before, so I'm not sure what an acceptable amount to bid would be. Would love any advice on that, if you have it! (Or have any suggestions for a really good lower back travel pillow)
For seat bidding, bid the max amount you’d comfortably pay. There are definitely situations when only a few people bid and you get it. It’s a toss up but figure out what you are comfortable paying and then bid. Please report back on how it goes!
I did that - any free upgrades - and it worked. What’s a bulkhead seat
Awesome! Bulkhead seats are behind a wall (eg where the front or mid-plane bathrooms are) and they don’t have seats in front of them, so you often get an extra foot or so of legroom. Very comfy, though you lose some storage space.
Or get an OSI code from the airline (I hold two belts in martial arts and have medical training as a paramedic) the airlines give me an OSI code also dress nice like wearing a suit. I am also have a frequent flyer on a couple of airlines. I am flying from Madison WI to Copenhagen Denmark and I am flying in the main cabin plus seats. I chose to pay for the bulkhead seats in my flights.
What's an OSI code?
I love a bulkhead seat!
@@MistaKasko OSI code is mainly for law enforcement or medical personnel. The airline knows who they can go get if they need assistance
Here's my awesome upgrade story:
I flew with Emirates and they made me 24 hours late. I had three connecting flights, the first was late so I had to change the last two flights. I had booked an extra leg room seat on my last of three flights (I'm 6 feet 4). Would have been great to say i got an upgrade, but didn't. Didn't even get the extra leg room seat on the last flight. Nothing to compensate for the late arrival nor the loss of the booked extra leg room seat. To make it even better, they lost my luggage, a suitcase and large rucksack. It's been four days and I still haven't got them.
It's heartwarming to know that these days a big company will bend over backwards to assist you if they stuff up. What a top notch company Emirates is. No, no, it really is.
oof! what a day!
I love your videos planning to do uk tour in April can you provide any suggestions
Oooh lots! I do have a video about London -
ua-cam.com/video/_RRX2B0MAuM/v-deo.html
but other than that, I love the Shard, afternoon tea anywhere but I went to the Four Seasons in Mayfair. It was $$ but I’m vegetarian and it had the most veggie options. You can prob find a good tea that’s cheaper. DISHOOM is a must for dinner or breakfast. Cahoots is a really fun cocktail / speakeasy place. Also if you’re a harry potter fan, visiting the Warner Bros studio is unreal, a must. UA-cam channel Love and London has some other great tips - she is also named Jess and very awesome:)
@@roadjesstraveled thanks my wife and I love your videos. Week of April 15 2022 we plan on going
@@glall3603 Love to hear that, thanks for watching! That will be a great time to go. Weather is nicer than winter and its less crowded than summer. I love the UK in the spring!
@@roadjesstraveled and also assuming Covid gets better
Hi road jess traveled,
Loved your video.
Can you please show me how to change flight ticket date with Qantas Airlines in Thailand?
I am going to Thailand next month and maybe need to change my return flying date just in case.
Thanks for watching! It depends on whether you booked a changeable ticket or not, I would contact customer service for more information.
if you have any helpful skills in an emergency, you might get a little help. i used to note when i was checking in that i was a Red Cross first responder and more often than not got a window exit seat( with all that extra legroom), since they were often the last be assigned...
That’s a great tip! Thanks!
I got an upgrade once from economy to first class, it was the best day of my life. In my situation i believe it was due to airport security wanting to save face and embarrassment for the way they treated me. They literally strip searched me at passport control in front of all the passengers going through where as they should have took me into a private room. It literally started off as "sir take off your jacket" then followed by "take off your shirt, now your pants" i was embarrassed as hell but followed their instructions since i've got nothing to hide so fuck them. Eventually they let me go so once i got to my gate i was stopped by another security officer who took my original boarding pass and gave me a new one which was the upgrade.
Interesting. Sorry you were treated that way but but glad they gave you a well-deserved upgrade!
P
They upgraded you because it is cheaper than a lawsuit.
The song ❤ so it begins...
Yes! ❤️
Hi road jess traveled,
Yes I have a changeable flight ticket so is it easier just go to airport and change it there?
I would just call them, it’s easiest.
Once a flight from frankfurt to delhi, i randomly asked any free upgrades available, and the answer was why not..and i moved from 35c to 5b..
Amazing!!
Where did you ask? At check in or later?
Yep, all that makes sense.
Thanks for watching!
I got upgraded once cause i was a student pilot and the flight engineer was my friend's father
That’s awesome!
Gracias. Thanks.
Happy to help!
I like the name of your channel. Pretty clever. I’m sure you get a lot. 😁
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words ❤️
I mean we were flying back from London into Chicago and my dad went up to them and said You have any upgrades? And they upgraded all three of us to first class
amazing!!
The unicorn upgrade is akin to lottery and the odds of success are slim as a cigarette paper thickness
I’ve been upgraded several times over the years. First time was in 1989 as my newlywed wife and I were flying from Honolulu to Tokyo and they gave us business class seats. Perhaps the airlines thought we were going to be rich frequent flyers someday. I’ve since been a frequent flyer but never got rich. Oh well…
When you talk about up grades. Are you talking about American carriers or is this for most carriers all over the world . ! Enjoyed your tips on the up grade subject .
All over the world :) Some airlines may be more generous with upgrades than others. Thanks for watching!
So if you arrive late are you more likely to get an upgrade, because theyd know by then if the flight will be overbooked or not?
I recommend arriving/checking in early as it makes their job easier and they are more likely to reward you for that.
I wanna do this but the thing is I absolutely HATE bulkhead seats so if I request for one and don’t get the final business upgrade, I’m stuck with something I hate more than normal economy.
Out of curiosity, what don't you like about the bulkhead? Is it because there is no under-seat storage?
road jess traveled I kind of like the cosy presence of another seat in front of me. I love legroom and space, but in bulkhead it’s like there’s no one in front and it just feels really weird. The TV is also too far in my opinion.....
Lemma Deray That makes sense!!
@@roadjesstraveled I hate bulkhead seats too. I actually like resting my knee on the seat in front of me and my foot can rest on my backpack under that seat. In bulkhead I'm super uncomfortable. No foot rest at all. Also, I'm only 5'1" so economy seats aren't restricting for me.
Always ask if you’re on a business trip booked by your company. I worked for big Pharma back in the day but didn’t travel that much... I often got upgrades just by smiling and asking nicely. And yeah I was dressed well... no jeans
Great tip!
So would everybody else.... so would everybody like to fly somewhere AT ALL!! Bear that in mind! Ok, put that aside. Remember that those helping you are those in charge! And if you are rude, forget it. You can wear jeans, but it depends on what else you have on.
Of course, if you get an upgrade, you will be nice!! (Right??). But understand it is rare and far in between. Never expect it! And watch a LOT of other videos (not just this one) as knowledge is power!
Agree, thanks for watching!
Best way to guarantee an upgrade was to buy an upgraded ticket. That’s what I do and I’ve never flown coach again.
Totally! This video is focusing on free upgrades.
I got upgraded from economy to business flying from Istanbul to Manchester, was so random. Turkish Airlines Didn’t even ask or anything but was amazing
That’s so awesome!
@@roadjesstraveled literally was the best, I must of taken about 200 or so flights in my life and it was the first AND ONLY time I had ever been upgraded lmao
Sounds amazing! My mom just left Istanbul and loved it. Thanks for watching :)
I just joined a company and during my first week we had to fly to Japan for business. The lady at the gate said the flight was overbooked and she is putting me in first class. I was happy for 10 seconds but my boss said, actually would it be alright if they upgraded me instead and you take economy? I said sure, I'm the newbie. I appreciate the free overseas flight ticket, you take first class.
Interesting. Well, hopefully it happens again but without your boss so you can enjoy it!
I got downgraded by JetBlue once . Bought business and was forced to sit in Coach! They double booked my seat 😂
OMG that is HORRIBLE! What did they do to make up for it? Did you get a full refund?
Not looking for an upgrade just for an airline to honor their commitment.
Can you make one that helps us get our flights once ANA cancels a flight. We booked our flights (6 in total) in July to Okinawa via LAX for December. Our plans were to visit our family in Okinawa who have been stationed there for 3 years now with now contact with family. Yesterday ANA statically canceled our flight from LAX to Tokyo. But fear not as they are willing to book us on another flight LAX to Tokyo about 40 minutes later from the original flight but at twice the price. We have been on the phone with ANA for the past two days and they refuse to work with us. If you are wondering here is the flight info. Los Angeles
12:45 PM
Tokyo
5:40 PM
ANA 7543
Classy move ANA
Any advice welcome
Oh wow that’s awful! Are there any other airlines with that route at a better price?
So do upgrades happen only on overbooked flights?
Not necessarily!
I got called out of line for coach boarding and taken to first class. I still do not know why Lol.
Amazing!
I got a free upgrade by flirting with the check in staff. Worked in domestic flight, why not international flights? I will try it when i go to Philippines next year.
Interesting!
Across the world, I think it's economy otherwise known as coach!
Yep!
nice video
Thanks for watching!
30 trip to jamaica from England never had a upgrade
Have you tried using all the tips in this video?
How do they define frequent flyer?
It depends on the airline :)
I got a free upgrade from Dallas to ATL, from the very back in coach, to the very front in first class. Because a guy who was in first wanted to sit next to his Girlfriend. Lol super lucky
Niceeeee!!!
fully booked or overbooked flight and i am the last on to check in they upgrade me from economy to business class with out asking (best time of my life)manila to vancouver direct flight thru philippines airlines
Ooh nice!!!
definitely feeling a little envious ! :))
I’m flying alone on emirates today and I want to get in business class so bad but I also scared to get denied lol and I like to dress comfy 🤦🏾♀️
How’d it go?
Did you get the free upgrade?
EK cabin crew can’t even upgrade family or even when their on leave. A person travelling business full price might be up sold first class for a discount cost but that would be it.
Save your money and get yourself a nicer hotel
Lol!!!
“Don’t be creepy!”
Heh, thanks for watching Tony!