How To Score A First-Class Seat Upgrade, According To An Expert

Key Points

Flying in first class may sound like a once-in-a-lifetime luxury, but according to upgrade expert Jennifer Yellin of Points Path, it’s more attainable than many travelers realize. With the right mix of timing, flexibility, and insider knowledge, you can trade cramped coach for wide seats, elevated meals, and a flute of Champagne at 35,000 feet—sometimes without spending more money than you already planned. Here’s how to put her best tips into practice.

Why First-Class Seats Aren’t Always Out of Reach

Once upon a time, travelers swapped stories about getting bumped to first class simply by showing up in a blazer, being polite, or celebrating a honeymoon. While kindness to flight attendants is always the right move, upgrades don’t work that way anymore.

Airlines now use tightly controlled systems to decide who gets moved to the front of the plane—and those systems are driven by loyalty status, available miles, and cold, hard data, not outfits or charm.

That said, “scoring a first-class seat isn’t as hard as you might think,” Yellin says. “But it takes some work and flexibility.”

One big reason: Airlines don’t like to let premium seats go empty. As flights get closer to departure, many carriers release unsold business and first-class seats as award availability. For travelers with frequent flyer miles, that can mean last-minute opportunities to upgrade for far less than the sticker price.

So while summer may be winding down, Yellin notes, there are still excellent chances to snag that coveted seat in the front of the plane if you know where to look.

Use the Right Tools

If you’ve ever wasted hours toggling between airline websites, you’re not alone.

“Using tools such as Points Path can also help, as travelers can see all flights in one place without having to go to multiple websites to check availability,” Yellin says.

These search tools aggregate award inventory across airlines, making it much easier to spot those elusive first-class seats before they disappear.

The takeaway here: Instead of refreshing five different airline sites, set up alerts or use a search engine that does the work for you.

Be Flexible With Timing and Routes

Flexibility is the golden rule of upgrades. If you’re open to flying a day earlier, a day later, or even routing through a different hub city, you’ll dramatically increase your odds of finding a premium seat.

For example, you may not see award availability on a nonstop flight from Dallas to Paris. But if you’re willing to connect through Chicago or Philadelphia, that extra stop could be the key to unlocking a first-class ticket.

Book Through Partner Airlines

Here’s one of Yellin’s favorite strategies: booking award tickets through a partner airline. Different airlines assign different “prices” to the same exact seat, which means you could save tens of thousands of miles just by booking smart.

Take this real-life example Yellin shared from a scan of current conditions: “American Airlines has two business-class seats on their nonstop flight from Chicago to Dublin next week. While the cost is quite high at 75,000 American Airlines miles, you can instead use their partner airline Alaska Airlines to book the exact same flight, requiring just 55,000 miles.”

That’s a savings of 20,000 miles per ticket, enough to cover a domestic flight later in the year.

Start With Shorter Flights

If you’re new to upgrades, you don’t have to jump straight to a transatlantic ticket. Shorter domestic routes are often easier to upgrade, and they still give you a taste of the first-class experience.

Look for flights at off-peak times, like midweek or midday, when premium cabins are less likely to sell out to business travelers. Even a two-hour hop with a wider seat and free drinks can make a noticeable difference in your trip.

Don’t Ignore Last-Minute Opportunities

If you’re comfortable waiting until closer to your departure, you may find upgrades opening up within days, or even hours, of your flight. While this strategy isn’t for everyone (especially families who need seats together), solo travelers or flexible couples can score big.

“Many airlines release more award availability as the flight gets closer,” says Yellin. “This is a common practice for unsold premium cabin seats.”

That means the week of your trip is often the best time to check again, even if you didn’t see availability when you first booked.

The Takeaway

Flying first class doesn’t have to be reserved for the wealthy. With a little research, a flexible mindset, and the willingness to think outside the box, you can experience lie-flat seats and cozy comforters to Europe without draining your bank account.

As Yellin explains, the key is knowing how to work the system: “There are still great opportunities to fly business or first class—you just have to know where to look.”

Read the original article on Southern Living