Flying business class offers the best of flying; you get a comfortable roomy seat, complimentary drinks and a seriously upgraded snack bar. It only makes sense that so many people seek out an upgrade when they get the chance to fly business, but it can be so expensive to earn this place on a plane, which is why it's so good to investigate other ways of finding yourself in that business class seat. For a few ideas on what you can do to get ahead of the coach lineup take a look at these tips.
Dress To Impress And Speak Up
Yes, airlines still offer upgrades for free, or for very cheap, and you can even get them last minute if you know what you're doing. The important thing to remember about flying business class is that the people around you are probably going to be in business, or at least, a little more well off than some of the passengers flying coach. This is why you should always dress the part when you're attempting to get an upgrade. You want people to think that you're important and to want to help you get ahead. Dress your best, and make an effort to arrive early enough to speak to a booking agent about a possible upgrade. If you're flying during an off-peak time, and they have the available room, they may be able to bump you up no problem.
Call Around
The internet is wonderful for researching holiday destinations and booking flights but if you want to upgrade to a business class seat, you might need to do a little bit more than search for it online. Of course, many search engines will come up with seat sales here and there that might help you out, but if you have a particular flight in mind, it's always best to call and speak to a professional travel agent. These agents have access to lists of how many people are already flying on certain aircraft, can see prices, and can sometimes alter them. Sometimes travel agents are able to book you in an upgraded seat for a very small fee if they have the spare space to do so. Flying business class at low prices can take a little digging, but it's worth the effort in the end.
Get A Rewards Card
Sure, frequent flyer miles are helpful to frequent flyers, but what about everybody else? If you want to get ahead in your upgrade possibilities, and you're serious about flying business class for cheap, then getting on board with a rewards card is the way to go. This isn't about begging, borrowing, or stealing, you simply earn points as you shop, earn points as you fly, and sometimes even earn points as you eat, which makes it easy to save up enough to upgrade your seat when It comes time to take a trip. You might be surprised at some of the other benefits that these programs can have. Some of them offer various incentives and gifts.