Six Tips from Savvy Travelers
Big comfy seats, free meal service and flight attendants who treat you like royalty. There’s nothing quite like flying up front and every traveler should experience it at least once. So, the team at WallyPark has consulted the experts to learn a few tricks that could help you land a free airline upgrade.
The Easy Way
The most common way to earn a seat upgrade to the premium cabin of most airlines (along with access to their private lounge) is by joining their loyalty program and redeeming points or miles. But that’s hardly “free” because it’s based on all your prior travel and you probably paid for those flights.
While we’re on the topic, we should also mention that the easiest way to get an upgrade if seats are available is to simply pay for it. You can often purchase an upgrade online after booking your ticket, when checking in online or at the airport check-in counter. Some airlines even have systems that allow you to “bid” online for upgrades that become available.
But, again, those upgrades aren’t free. So, how do you score one if you’re not a frequent traveler or independently wealthy? Sometimes it’s just a matter of timing, tenacity or courtesy.
Choose Off-Peak Flights
Booking your travel on less popular days of the week or at less busy times of the day increases the chance of there being a few empty seats just waiting for you. Based on our research, Tuesday and Wednesday are generally the slowest days for air travel – although all bets are off if those days happen to be holidays.
As you might expect, flights scheduled very early in the morning, late at night and overnight are also more likely to have upgrades available. Another bonus of choosing off-peak travel times is that it also leads to shorter security lines and less congested terminals.
Arrive Early
Get to the gate well before your departure time to ask the agent about possible upgrades, add your name to the top of the upgrade list and then check back with them often. You don’t want to be a pest or “squeaky wheel” but stopping back to see how things are going – or just offering the gate agent an occasional smile – can help them remember you and recognize how much you’d like to move up.
Embrace Flexibility
No one likes long delays or a change in plans when you’re on a tight schedule, but if you’re travel times and dates are flexible, you can often land a free upgrade (and much more). Volunteering to be “bumped” off an overbooked flight can result in a better seat on the next one and some airlines even add gift cards or other incentives.
If the next available flight is the next day, your upgrade may also include overnight accommodations and shuttle service to a nearby hotel. It’s like getting a little a mini-vacation before you start your real vacation.
Fly Solo
Single seats are more likely to be empty than multiple seats and moving pairs or whole families is more difficult for gate agents to coordinate. So, being the only traveler in your party – or being willing to split up – makes it much easier for those in charge of the seating chart to accommodate you and balance other groups.
Mention a Special Occasion
Fortunately, check-in and gate agents are still human and that means they’re just as susceptible to sentimentality and have as much desire to please others as the rest of us. Sometimes mentioning that your trip is in celebration of a birthday, anniversary, graduation, reunion or other special occasion is enough to earn you a special upgrade – or at least get you bumped up a few places on the on-deck list.
Be Polite
The most important part of us all being human may be that we all appreciate a little courtesy and consideration. Working at the airport is often a thankless job leading to long hours and aching feet. So, a positive attitude and polite approach can go a long way with most gate agents, and your kindness could make the difference in earning that upgrade if one becomes available.
Pick the Right Parking Partner
Looking for a travel upgrade that doesn’t cost any more than other options (and often costs even less)? Remember to reserve your premium, hassle-free parking space with WallyPark at the same time you book your flights. We’re an easy choice but fill up fast during peak travel periods, so we suggest you book now.
