Thursday, July 11, 2013

How To Get A Free Upgrade on a Transatlantic Flight

Good morning!  I managed to stay awake until 9:30pm last night (which felt like 2:30am, 17 hours after I woke up in London) and then didn't open my eyes until 5:30 this morning, so I am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!  The jetlag will probably catch up to me soon,  but I was so full of enthusiasm for life that I decided to make today's blog post a vlog.

Let me reiterate that these two pieces of advice are based on my experiences; it doesn't mean that they're universally true!  But I have taken more then 50 transatlantic flights in the last 12 years - that sound you hear is my bank account wailing and gnashing its teeth and tearing its clothes and coving itself in sackcloth and ashes - so I sort of think I know what I'm taking about.  Watch on to hear my tips for how to get a free upgrade!  I know there are other experts out there, so what suggestions do you have?  Do leave your ideas in the comments, please!



Side note: I'm at my parents' house.  My flat didn't magically transformed since I've been gone.

Postscript: it wasn't actually raining, so I still haven't gone for my run.  Rain gods, if you're there, I really need you to do your thing so I can head out.  I have a half-marathon in two months and I'm not ready!  Eek.

edited: my friend KC wrote a brilliant post with tips for smart flying - check it out!

33 comments:

  1. 3. Fly solo. They're more likely to have single seats available than two or more, especially next to each other.

    4. Don't be a sobbing mess because your pets are in the cargo hold ;)



    Yay for getting upgrades both ways!

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  2. yes to #3 - although when I flew from LHR to IAD with Jon in August 2009 we somehow got booked in separately... and I got an upgrade to premium economy and he didn't. MUAHAHAHA.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your tips! Gracias! I'm flying from Madrid to Glasgow in August. I'm sure, I'll not be that lucky!
    It was nice to follow you on Instagram! Ya queda poco!

    María

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  4. Yeah, see the only problem with that for me is I would never give up my seat unless I was guaranteed another window seat — I get motion sick if there's turbulence and I can't look at something other than the inside of the plane rolling around.

    I do have an AA credit card, and I hear you get priority for upgrades when you request at the gate but have never tried. I always feel like a phony in my jeans and (reasonably nice) shirt when there are men in business suits asking for the same. I had a free pass to the Admiral's club once and almost didn't go in because I felt ridiculous. But my desire to charge my laptop and have free wifi won out in the end. I booked my next flight with miles and got a free main cabin extra seat for the flight there, but maybe I'll try for an upgrade on the way back.

    Every time I fly I wish for a voucher to get the next flight. But then, of course, I worry I won't be able to get a window seat in that case (I figure I can persuade someone to switch if I threaten to barf). I volunteered once, but they took the couple behind me when they realized they need 2 and not 3 (I would just like to point out that a single guy volunteered immediately after them, and I should have gotten priority as the first to volunteer — the couple did NOT look like they needed a voucher, and I totally did). They put me on the plane at the last minute, but I did get the best seat on the flight — it was one of those tiny planes, and I got the first seat, the only seat that actually had extra leg room, and it was still a window (which I totally needed on that flight).

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  5. I loved this! And seriously laughed out loud when you were talking about the woman who "manipulated" everyone. Seriously those people drive me crazy! And it totally does pay to be nice! I've had all sort of free stuff given to me on airplanes over the years just because I'm nice to the flight attendants because I think there are so many people on planes that are so rude that they really appreciate the people who are nice!

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  6. I'm flying to London tomorrow and I'm using these tips! I hope there's a "manipulator" on my flight :)

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  7. I always (always) fly the same airline, and if you rack up a certain amount of miles, you become a priority customer, and you are automatically more likely to be upgraded to business/first class if they have open seats. I've been upgraded to first class a few times over the past two years, which is absolutely awesome. I'm sure that some airlines have similar programs, and I usually don't have to ask, I just get automatically upgraded on my iphone boarding pass. Once you fly first-class transatlantically, you'll never want to go back.

    Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try your trips next time I fly as well - getting upgraded is the best!

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  8. I've got the British 10K on Sunday and a half shortly after yours, and I haven't run in nearly two weeks because it's been so hot here. Solidarity! ;-)

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  9. Even though I have done no flying recently and probably won't for awhile, these are great tips. I especially love your point about dressing nice. Since I posted about that awhile ago I have really been trying to dress nicely as much as I can, so that I don't look like a mess if the neighbors drop by, or if I run into someone I know at the store. It doesn't take that much more effort. And really, I can't believe the gall of the woman next to you. Kudos to the flight attendant for being so awesome.

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  10. you never know... that's the thing about luck! have a great holiday :)

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  11. she did! every time I looked over at her from the comfort of my fabulous free seat, she shot me Eyes. eek.

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  12. haha I don't think my niceness would have been quite so impressive if she hadn't been so shady!

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  13. true! right now I just book the cheapest flight regardless of airline, but that's probably short-sighted of me...

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  14. haha YES solidarity all the way down the track. good luck :)

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  15. The only time I was upgraded on an international flight was because the tv in my original seat was broken. So not only did I get the extra leg room but no one else was in my row of 3 at all so I could lay against the window and sprawl all the way across. Then again, it was a United flight between Newark and London and I don't recommend United in general.x

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  16. My dad taught us at a VERY young age that you have to dress business casual on a flight. And I trust him... he's a global entry traveler and travels all the time... I've been upgraded with him a ton. But never by myself. :/

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  17. when I went to London last summer to visit my friend, I somehow lucked out and managed to get the entire section of seats to myself! it was one of those 3 x 5(?) x 3 planes, so I had 3 seats by the window to sprawl out - it was heaven. I know that's not related to flight upgrades, but I just like to talk it about every now and then to remind myself it actually happened.

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  18. I totally agree with you on both points! The one and only time I ever got upgraded (without flashing a military ID, mind you) was when I wasn't wearing lounge clothes! So there is definitely something to be said for dressing to impress on a flight...even if you are a wee bit uncomfortable doing so!


    Also, you were made for vloging. Great video presence! And thanks for linking up with the Fresh Face Friday blog hop! Happy weekending, Betsy!

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  19. Last year on my LAX to LHR flight I got upgraded to the extra leg room seats without my knowledge which in theory sounds great except since I am so short it meant I could not touch the ground either so my feet got horribly swollen! I also once had my luggage put on priority on a LAX to Dublin flight but they did not tell me so I thought it was lost but it was actually on a special carousel!

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  20. This made me laugh in the middle of embarrassment - because I just wrote about loving my yoga pants for flying! I do. I hate having to take a belt off in security and my legs get cold in a dress. I'm a wimp. But I totally agree with what you're saying about dressing the part if you want the upgrade - I have gotten upgraded when I've been on short conference flights and showed up in my conference wear, but not in my lounge wear.

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  21. I usually try and dress to impress when I fly- it makes you feel more confident, you're camera ready (because you KNOW you'll want to take those after flight pics right when you get in the lobby of your awesome hotel...or that just me?) and like you said, you look the part so you're more prone to a free upgrade. Love vlogs!

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  22. Great tips, who can argue with looking and being nice!
    xo
    @breaellis
    WHAT I WORE: tip to toe!

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  23. amen! there's nothing wrong with being comfortable, but some clothes belong in the house.

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  24. WINNING! though I agree with you about United...

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  25. oh amazing! it definitely counts as a stroke of transatlantic luck :)

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  26. haha thank you - I really like public speaking, which I guess makes me a bit of a narcissist :P

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  27. oh NO! that sounds awful... even though I'm 5'11" so I can't actually imagine it. haha!

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  28. haha oops! sorry, I'm behind on my blog reading :P

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  29. you never know when you might need an #OOTD photo - I hear you!

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  30. Don't be - you've got the right of it. If you want to be treated professionally, you need to look professional. In all other walks of life, I try to keep that in mind. For some reason, it just goes out the window when I'm thinking about air travel :p

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  31. Great tips! I grew up flying non-rev as my mother worked for the airlines and I always 'dressed' for a flight because I knew that not only did it give me more of an opportunity to get on the flight, but it also increased my chances of flying in business or first :)

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  32. This post is getting a bookmark! Thanks for the tips.

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