Free upgrades - business flights on economy fares

Try for a free upgrade to business class

We've all heard stories from friends or colleagues who have received free upgrades to business class, but is there anything you can do to improve your chances of being upgraded? According to Emirates Airlines, there is no sure-fire way to get upgraded unless you've paid for it, or earned it through frequent flyer miles.

Being a member of a frequent flyer programme greatly increases your chances, as these passengers are usually the first to be offered an upgrade if economy class is overbooked. If no frequent flyer passengers are onboard, travelers who paid full price for an economy class ticket will have priority over those paying a discounted fare.

If your schedule is flexible and time permits, you can also volunteer to be bumped in return for an upgrade to business class on the next flight, rather than an airline voucher towards a future trip.

It is always a good idea to dress smartly and carry professional looking luggage if you want to get upgraded to business class. You might be passed over if you don't look the part. It also helps to travel solo and light. The easier you are to accommodate, the more likely it is that the gate agent will make an exception for you.

Explore cheap business class fares

Don't automatically assume that business class is out of your budget, advises Girish Deshpande, branch supervisor at Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays, a Dubai-based travel agency. Depending on special discounts or promotions that might be available, the difference between a full coach fare and business class might be less than a few hundred dollars. Try to get quotes from one or more business class consolidator specialists.

Also consider the new generation of all-business class discount carriers, such as Maxjet and Silverjet, which currently fly between the UK and the US, but are looking to expand their destination portfolio to include locations such as Dubai.

Consider premium economy

A less expensive alternative to business class is premium economy, which is offered by such carriers as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. One step above basic economy class, premium economy offers more legroom, wider seats, and laptop connections. Prices for premium economy class tickets are about 30-40 per cent higher on average than full fare economy tickets. Also, because these seats are limited in number, any overbooking in economy class could mean you being bumped up to business class.

Choose your seat carefully

If economy class is your only option, you can help make your journey more comfortable by choosing the best available seat, Deshpande said. Customers can reserve seats online on most airlines up to 24 hours before boarding, and careful seat selection is critical because not every economy seat is the same.

Websites such as Seatguru.com, Seatexpert.com, and UK-air.net provide detailed seating information for most major airlines with regard to leg room, seat width, recline level, and pitch (the distance between rows). Finding a seat with just a few extra inches of legroom can make a huge difference on a long flight. (Here's a tip: there is extra space in the final rows of a Boeing 747 because the tapering of fuselage means there is one less seat on each side.)

Unfortunately, not all seats can be booked in advance, Deshpande points out. Emergency row seats usually cannot be reserved because airlines need to ensure that these passengers are physically able to help out in an emergency. Also, bulkhead rows are typically set aside for frequent flyers and families with small children.

If seats in these rows have not been pre-booked, it is best to arrive early at check in because they will be issued on a first-come first-serve basis. Keep in mind that some airlines, such as Virgin, charge a fee of up to $100 to reserve an emergency row seat, while bulkhead seats are usually free.

If all else fails, keep an eye out for an empty row nearby and stake your claim once the flight doors are closed, then stretch out, relax, and enjoy your good fortune.

See also:
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