Flying Business class? How to improve your chance for an upgrade!

Who doesn’t fantasize about flying business class? Champagne in the skies accompanied by a Michelin star dinner and a comfortable bed to relax on and watch your favorite movies. Especially for long-haul flights, upgrades are very welcome. But how do you assure yourself an upgrade to business class? We have listed a few tips to help!

People are on the plane waiting to leave

Join an airline loyalty program

As a
frequent flyer and loyal customer, airlines are more likely to reward you with
an occasional upgrade. The more you fly, the higher your chances. Loyal
passengers are more likely to be upgraded than occasional passengers.

Dress to impress

Airlines
tend to favor well-dressed passengers with business class upgrades rather than
passengers that show up in their sweat suit. The reason is not that they want
you to be uncomfortable, but you should match the profile of passengers that
have paid to travel in business class. Suit up and bring an impressive
financial paper with you, and chances are you get rewarded. However, if you are
not offered an upgrade, you have to expect to travel in a less comfortable
outfit in economy class for the next few hours.

Late check-in

The later
you check in for your flight, the bigger the chances are of your flight being
overbooked. This often results in a denied boarding, leaving you with a
significant delay. In compensation, they could offer you an upgrade on a later
flight. You can also ask for this to limit the inconvenience. This option may
not be interesting if you are not very flexible in your time schedule. Besides
a replacement flight, a denied boarding also allows you to claim
compensation under Regulation 261/2004 for the loss of time.

Use your special occasions

Going on
your honeymoon, is it your birthday or are you starting the expat life? Caring
is sharing! You chances of an upgrade increase when you inform the airline crew
in a friendly manner of your celebrations. Happiness is contagious! If an
upgrade is not an option, you may secure yourself with a complimentary glass of
champagne or more legroom.

Ask for an upgrade yourself

Some people
are not afraid to ask for an upgrade, and sometimes that works! The trick is to
inform for possible upgrade possibilities at the gate, not the check-in desk.
The crew has a better overview of the possible space left on the flight at this
point. Asking for an upgrade at the gate often leaves you with a better deal
compared to asking for an upgrade at the check-in counter.

Have you
gotten any tips for upgrades or travelling more comfortably? Let us know in the
comments below!

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