There might be billions of tricks to get upgraded to Business and First class Airlines. However, they all require more than praying and good behavior.
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Hold Frequent Flyer Status with an airline
Anytime the airline has oversold their seats (especially possible between major cities – Mumbai-Delhi, New York – Boston, London-Paris are few examples where it occurs frequently. There might be a holiday season etc.
Usually, members with top tier get upgraded
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Bid for Upgrade
There are many airlines that allow you to bid your price online or during the check-in. They are a fraction of the price that you would pay to get full upgrade. Many airlines have fixed cash prices to upgrade.
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USE MILES
Most of the airlines allow you to use your miles to upgrade your seat category. It only makes to upgrade one level. It would be a very stupid use of miles for 2 level upgrades. Now it depends on the airlines’ configuration.
Some airlines have
Economy > Premium Economy > Business Class
(In this case, it doesn’t make sense to upgrade from Economy to Business. I would rather buy Premium Economy and be upgraded to business than Economy to Business).Other airlines have
Economy- Business Class – First class configuration.
(In this scenario, the smart choice is to use Economy to Business but a very bad choice for Economy to First.)
Most airlines have Economy and Business Only
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Buy Targeted Tickets
I have done this so many times where I would buy business class and would automatically be upgraded to the first as the condition of the sale. Etihad, Gulf Air, KLM and Singapore Airlines keep having those offers.
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Buy Mixed Class Cabins
Get ticket of Economy for a certain sector and business class for another. Normally when such mixed cabin tickets are issued on same PNR – it creates a logistical issue for airline as the fare rules of bigger class apply.Example if you are flying Dubai – London on Business Class and London – Berlin on the economy, you technically get all the features of business class cabin and airlines might upgrade you full way. Many times I just get my flight changed and get on one which has business class option vs all economy flight. Airlines have authority to put you on another flight.
