How many times have you been upgraded on a flight?

[Crispychillifriedbeef]

For me, it’s just happened. First time ever to business class, previous flight was cancelled and a larger aircraft was used and they upgraded me at the gate.

I’m Silver status with this airline, I normally pay for economy and then bid to pay to upgrade to premium economy or business which is accepted 90% of the time. But I’ve never have a freebie!

Any tricks or hints to get upgraded more often? I am flying far too much recently.

About 10/15 times when I used to fly regularly.

Gold status on Emirates. Upgraded to Business from Economy several times on long haul. Half of those happened at the gate when they’ve had a family who want to sit together. Always when I’m flying alone.

BA economy to Club World and Club World to First several times long haul. Gold status. Always flying alone. Asked at the lounge in half of those and they upgraded me. The rest were standard check in and sent off with a wink and a much nicer boarding pass!

I used to fly very frequently with both airlines. Sometimes weekly. Usually for work. Usually on flexible high cost economy tickets.

I would say upgrades only possible when flight is near full or very empty in premium cabins
You are a higher FF tier
You are travelling alone
Your economy ticket is full fare (Y class)
Ask at the lounge if not upgraded at check in.
Ask at the gate (the premium line!) if not upgraded before.

Happy travels.

Check the forum for your airline on Flyertalk too. Loads of upgrade tips for FFs with status.

3 times - twice on Emirates once on EVA air. No ‘status’ but I worked in travel media so I think my
name had a note on it (this no longer seems to be a thing).

Many times. Only on emirates or BA. Most common upgrade is from business to first on long haul but I’ve occasionally been upgraded on a short haul economy to business.

I’m not convinced there are any tricks. I can’t remember the last time I flew in a business class cabin that wasn’t 100% full. I guess having paid full fair and airline stays are the key but asking nicely, dressing up, bringing chocolates etc are all nonsense ideas IMO

Once. Def no status. I was backpacking at the time. Didn’t realise until I was boarding and saw my seat was 1a!

Once, from premium to business , my family of four were all upgraded.

These days it's often only done when there's a need to do it (e.g. equipment change, oversales in some cabins) and generally based on tier points, ticket type etc...

It's certainly become a very regulated and monitored process at some airlines in part in order to stop anything underhand going on.

@DancingNotDrowningha yes re dressing nicely. The chocs for cabin crew only seems to work for my gay friends who have senior cabin crew friends and who have put in a good word with the purser.
Ditto for ‘it’s our honeymoon/wedding/birthday’. You may as well carry a poster saying ‘I only fly on special occasions!!!!’’

As in I agree dressing nicely won’t get you upgraded. I’ve been upgraded wearing yoga clothes.

Several times - but also BA silver /gold at the time, and always when travelling alone.

We were upgraded from business to first once when travelling with DH and DD2. I've never seen DD2 quite so excited. It was a nice treat.

My family of four were all wearing jogging bottoms as we always do for long haul flights. We got to the boarding gates and a load of XXX’s flashed up on the screen and the boarding pass was shown.

Once, on honeymoon (flying BA from Heathrow to Johannesburg). We asked and they upgraded us from economy to premium economy. It felt like a treat to us- for an overnight flight the extra space was very welcome!

Once from BA world traveller plus to Club world AKA business. It was a real treat.

Solo passenger and I got the feeling that was the reason I was upgraded.