For those that are lucky enough, business class is a truly fantastic way to fly and should really be experienced at least once in your life. No doubt you will have read various airline reviews about the services available, like the Singapore Airline reviews or the Etihad reviews that you can often find online. For those that don’t have the cash to spare, there are a number of ways that you can increase your chances of getting upgraded. Here’s our top list.
Be flexible – If you are a frequent flyer and have your meal and seat requests stored in your frequent flyer profile, take it out. The airlines need someone who can switch at the last minute.
Dress smartly – Airlines won’t let you into their business lounges or business class if you look scruffy. They want to create a sense of allure to the service and if anyone does need to be upgraded, the person who is looking the nicest will no doubt be chosen.
Arrive early – Checking-in early means you are at the airport already and you can ask how busy the flight is. You could always cheekily ask them to keep you in mind in case they need to upgrade anyone.
Be flexible (again) – This time it’s all about when you travel. Airlines overbook their flights because (surprisingly) people just don’t turn up for them. Often passengers miss flights or they get cancelled or changed, but either way, if your flight is full and they need to bump people onto a later flight, they are going to ask you to. They may compensate you with food vouchers and a night in a hotel or money or if you are lucky, they will upgrade you. The latter is not always possible if a lot of the flights are full but it’s better to keep your options open.
Check online at other experiences people have had with the airlines and if you really want a look, checkout these Etihad reviews for an example of what business class is really like.
