Don’t just wing it the next time you fly. We have the details on the best time to upgrade your flight, according to travel experts.
This Is the Best Time to Upgrade Your Flight, Say Experts
Updated on Nov. 13, 2024
Getting a free flight upgrade is a staple in Hollywood. Fans of the show Friends may remember the episode where Chandler and Monica tell the gate agent at the airport that they’re flying to their honeymoon and get automatically upgraded to first class (after fighting another engaged couple for the privilege because … Monica). Because of scenes like this, you might think that celebrating a big life event is the best time to upgrade a flight. But is that the reality? And even if you’re not celebrating a big event, it never hurts to ask for an upgrade, right?
No, it never hurts to ask, but chances are, you’ll likely be paying for the privilege of an upgrade. That said, there are some air-travel tricks you can use to score a discounted flight upgrade or, yes, even a free one. Read on to learn the best ways to upgrade a flight from Cathi Banks, vice president of Legacy Travel, and Elizabeth Herzog, an airline gate agent and customer service rep for a major U.S. airline. Feel free to give us a shout-out the next time you’re relaxing in your upgraded seat at 35,000 feet!
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Are all flight upgrades the same?
No. While flight upgrades often entail a passenger moving from a lower class to a higher one, they can also mean a seat change to an exit row or to a Comfort+ seat with more legroom, explains Herzog. There are also some fundamental differences based on the type of upgrade you’re privy to. There are three types of flight upgrades, as Banks notes below.
- System-wide upgrade: This is the best kind and can be used to upgrade virtually any flight at any time. It is given as a perk to customers in the highest-tier rewards programs or to the most elite fliers.
- Sticker upgrade or first-class upgrade: These flight upgrades can be purchased either via money (which would be less than the price of a first-class ticket) or by using airline points. There are limitations to what flights they can be used on, and they are not universal or always available to purchase.
- Automatic upgrade: People in an airline’s loyalty program may be automatically put on an “upgrade waitlist” based on their status. This only guarantees a spot on the waitlist, though; it does not guarantee an upgrade.
Unfortunately, upgrades are not always easy to access, and despite the stories you’ve heard, airlines don’t give them out very often. “Airlines would hands-down rather sell a seat than give it away, even if it’s for a lesser amount,” Banks says. Often, to get an upgrade, passengers need to pay, use their miles or be frequent fliers with elite status. If you are willing to pay for an upgrade, though, there are optimal times to ask for one. Depending on how full the flight is and how quickly it sells out, paying for an upgrade may or may not be an option.
When is the best time to upgrade a flight?
The best time to upgrade your flight is as early as possible—ideally right after you book your flight, believe it or not! Let’s lay it out for you: You can book your ticket 331 days prior to departure, and the earlier you book, the better the deal you’ll get, Banks says. Then, keep checking the ticket prices in the app from right after you buy your ticket up until a day or two before you leave. She recommends checking once a week, but you can check daily if you like. The app may offer a discounted upgrade during this time.
What’s the deal here? Prices and upgrade availabilities change as the airline sees how quickly (or not) the flight is filling up. The key to purchasing an upgrade—either using miles or cash—is doing so in advance, plain and simple, Herzog says.
How much do flight upgrades cost?
How much you’ll pay for an upgrade depends a lot on your frequent-flier status, the type of flight you’re booked on and variables like the time of day, week and year you’re flying, plus the type of upgrade you’re seeking. For example, on short domestic flights, an upgrade from economy to premium economy might cost between $100 and $300. For upgrades to business class, however, expect to pay significantly more, especially for long-haul international flights. Upgrades to business class on flights over five hours can be anywhere from $400 to $1,000, while premium routes (like New York to London) may cost above $1,500 or even $2,000
Different airlines have different upgrade policies, with some allowing mileage upgrades (like Delta’s Upgrade with Miles) or offering lower cash-upgrade offers through apps, which may be cheaper if purchased in advance. Some airlines even show different upgrade prices within the same app, so checking multiple booking options for the best deal is a good idea.
How can you get an upgrade on a flight for free?
Whether you’re trying to score a free upgrade or you’re open to paying for one, the advice is the same: “The best tip I have for getting upgrades is to join an airline’s rewards program and then keep all your business with that one airline—you’ll build points and status, which can translate into perks like discounted upgrades and perhaps even the occasional freebie if you fly often enough,” says Banks, who has been working in the travel industry for 35 years and flying first class for decades. “It’s not a secret trick, but these days there really aren’t any ‘secret’ tricks, and anyone who says so is probably just trying to get your money.”
As for that Friends episode? “It is such a good example of the difference between TV and real life—that almost never happens,” says Banks. “The best and only way to ensure a flight upgrade is to buy one. Especially now that airlines have tightened up their policies, ‘free’ upgrades are very few and far between, even for high-status fliers.” That said, it’s still worth a try—it may be more difficult to get an upgrade, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Can I ask for a flight upgrade at the airport?
You absolutely can, but it’s more of a gamble. When looking for a flight upgrade, you have several options, Herzog says, both in the airport and well before you get there.
Call the airline. “Calling customer service directly and speaking with a person should be your first route,” Banks says. “A person will always have more leeway to help you than a computer.” If you’re working with a travel agent, you can try going through them as well.
Keep an eye on the app. After you purchase your ticket, check in weekly or even daily, and you may see an offer to pay to upgrade at a discounted rate if the flight isn’t selling out, Banks says. Additionally, passengers can contact their airline via the website to check for any paid upgrade availability.
Ask at the check-in desk of your flight. There are sometimes passengers in business or first class who fail to make their flight. Therefore, before a flight starts boarding, you can check with a gate agent to see if this scenario is playing out on your flight. And if so, tell them that you’re interested in paying for an upgrade.
“Sometimes a good sob story will sway the gate agent—I’ve seen it happen, especially if the customer is military,” Herzog says. “It’s rare, but it can happen.” Again, your upgrade could just mean moving up closer to the front of the plane instead of the back row. “Passengers often ask to be moved to the front of the plane if they have short connection times,” Herzog adds.” Sometimes we can do it; sometimes we can’t.”
Talk to the flight attendant with the most sway. If all else fails, you can ask the lead flight attendant or the flight attendant at the boarding door. They may move you once everyone is seated or even after you’re in the air.
Can I upgrade airline seats with Expedia or another discount-travel site?
It depends on how the airline tickets are purchased, according to Banks, and that’s generally not something you will know when purchasing a ticket. If a company like Expedia purchased the tickets as “bulk airfare,” you can’t upgrade them through the third party and probably not directly through the airline either. However, if the company purchased them as “published airfare,” you can upgrade them … but you’ll have better luck calling the airline directly.
If you have your sights set on an upgrade, Banks doesn’t recommend using third-party sites. While it’s not impossible to get an upgrade through them, it’s very difficult. For what it’s worth, Expedia implies on its website that its focus is on helping customers choose the right ticket options the first time, not upgrading existing tickets.
One important note: If you’re booking a trip through Costco, those tickets will likely be purchased via bulk airfare. (That’s the main way these third parties get discounts, after all.) However, Banks notes that sometimes Costco offers special trip packages with published airfare that’s eligible for upgrades. If you talk to Costco customer service before you book the trip, they can tell you which it is.
The bottom line
Depending on the upgrade you’re seeking, you could be looking at hundreds or thousands of dollars. (Unless, of course, you’ve miraculously scored a free upgrade.) That’s why it’s important to weigh the costs against the benefits. “If your trip will be ruined by having to fly coach, then your comfort is worth the price of the upgrade—that is a question everyone should ask themselves before booking their ticket,” Banks says. “If the answer is simply that an upgrade would be nice to have, then follow the above tips. However, if the answer is that you need to fly business, executive or first class, then you should purchase that type of ticket at the beginning. The only guaranteed way to get an upgraded seat is to buy it.”
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on the best time to upgrade a flight, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist and interviewed travel experts. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Cathi Banks, co-owner and vice president of Legacy Travel; phone interview, Oct. 23, 2024
- Elizabeth Herzog, gate agent and a customer service rep for a major U.S. airline; phone interview, Oct. 22, 2024
