We Asked 4 Travel Experts the Best Way to Get a Flight Upgrade—and They All Agreed on These Top Tips

Those four little words can turn an ordinary travel day into something extraordinary. The anticipation builds as the gate agent smiles, prints out a new ticket, and says, “You got an upgrade.” For frequent fliers, it’s the closest thing to hitting the jackpot. And while luck certainly plays a role, seasoned travelers say there are ways to tip the odds in your favor.

“Reaching airline elite status definitely bumps you ahead in the upgrade queue,” Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, told Travel + Leisure. “But for an average traveler, buying smart trumps collecting miles.”

That’s why he says rather than waiting around to rack up those points and miles (that airlines seem to be making harder to accrue anyway), the best move is to try and buy your way in at a discount. 

“The ideal moment to snag an upgrade is two to three weeks before your flight; that’s when airlines sneak out noticeably cheaper premium tickets,” Cronin said. “Do not upgrade immediately after you’ve booked because fares usually soften in the weeks that follow. When the departure window narrows, log in again within one to two days before departure. Airlines often slash prices a day or two before a flight to fill the remaining spots.” 

However, Sara Wilcox, a Fora Advisor, says you may not even have to wait that long to get a deal on an upgrade. 

“If you live in a hub city, you already know that status upgrades are basically impossible to get these days. But there’s a little secret: if you’re going to fly at least one week later, you can often book the flight and then, after you buy it, go back into the reservation in your app and see if it offers you an upgrade,” Wilcox told T+L. “Chances are, the fare you paid plus the upgrade fee will be much less than if you had just bought the first-class ticket originally.” 

As Wilcox noted, you will likely have to give up a few of your frequent flier miles for this, but “you’ll get a cheaper first-class seat, if that is your goal.”

You can also get more strategic about the airlines you book with in the first place. “Some airlines let you bid for upgrades the day before a flight, which can land you a premium seat for a fraction of the normal cost,” Jesse Neugarten, founder and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, said. “I’ve seen upgrades to business class go for just a couple of hundred dollars this way, even on long-haul international flights. It just depends on how full the flight is. If you want to increase your chances, fly when demand is low.”

There is one more way you can get in those comfy seats in the first few rows of an airplane, and that’s by appealing in person. Ruchi Harnal, founder of Harnal Travel, explained that you can try to “arrive right when the check-in window opens—airlines sometimes offer upgrades at the counter for far less than the original fare.” It’s a move Neugarten has also used, noting that he’s “personally scored international business class seats for as little as $200 extra using this strategy.”

Really, getting a deal on an upgrade is a whole lot of good luck, the right timing, and lots of patience. “Watch the seat map instead of the clock. The moment you spot premium rows tightening, snag the upgrade before prices jump again,” Cronin added. “But if the map stays bare until the last minute, you might soon see flash sales. For connecting trips, zero in on shorter flight segments on regional jets, as this is where upgrades usually cost less.”

Lastly, Cronin said to “always check prices in the airline app; the mobile version often refreshes with sweeter offers before the desktop version catches up.”