Flying first class may be standard for some people, but for the rest of us, it remains an elusive luxury. The truth is, you might be surprised to hear that a large number of people who sit in the first-class section on any given flight, didn’t pay a first-class fare to do so. There are many alternative ways to score a prime seat on your next flight.
Commercial airlines must keep in mind that you have the freedom to choose one of their competitors instead of them, when scheduling your next flight. As a result many airlines have programs designed specifically for their most loyal customers. VIP or “elite” programs not only offer discount pricing, they bump you to the top of the list when there is an upgrade available from coach to first class. The only problem with these customer-loyalty programs is mainly that you have to acquire a large amount of flight time, approximately 25,000 miles as of 2009, in order to qualify for the program. You may also have to pay a monthly fee. There are ways around this prerequisite. Many airlines offer incentives like a store would offer a sale. One example of such an incentive is an offer of instant elite status if you book a flight out of a specific city within a specific time frame. These incentives are an ideal way to qualify you for elite status and; as a result, promote you to first class.
You can also use your frequent flier miles to get an upgrade to first-class from coach. If you have purchased a coach ticket at full price, the average cost to upgrade is between 15,000 and 20,000 miles. If you purchased your coach ticket through a special offer or bought it at a significantly lower rate than usual, your cost to upgrade may be more, or the option may not be available to you at all. Just as you can use miles to upgrade, you can use money to upgrade as well. Just make sure to fully read the rules your airline applies to upgrades before you purchase a ticket. There may be fee, to be paid up front, involved or other special rules.
Finally, not all airlines charge the same amount for a first-class ticket. Smaller or less traveled airlines offer first-class rates that are much more affordable than some of the larger commercial lines. You may have to compromise on time of day or even date. Check with the airlines to see if they are offering any specials on first-class tickets. There may be a sale price available for a flight you need to take.
