Up and Away: Expert Tips On Airline Upgrades
By Fred Cohn
You’ve had a grueling day on one coast; tomorrow you’re due for the same on the other. Wouldn’t it be nice to get some “me time” on the flight? But in coach, you’ve got about as much chance of finding relaxation as the Mariners do of winning the 2008 World Series. It’s times like these when upgrades seem awfully enticing. They aren’t always easy to come by, but they do happen. Here’s how to work the system:
1. Sign Up. If you use the airline’s frequent flyer program, it gives you automatic priority when they’re assigning upgrades. “It doesn’t make sense not to be on it,” says Brice Gosnell, regional publisher for
Lonely Planet America.2. Cash In Those Miles. If you’re saving your points for your personal travel, loosen up—and use them for upgrades. “Have you tried to use your miles for your European vacation?” asks Kathleen Ameche, author of
The Woman Road Warrior. “It isn’t always that available.”
3. Plan Ahead. Put in your upgrade request 24 to 72 hours before the flight. You’ll be ahead of the Johnny-come-latelies on the list. And although some business travelers like to reach the gate minutes before boarding, that’s not a good tactic for upgrades.
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