I'm flying British Airways to London for holidays, leaving on Dec. 15th from LAX. All the girls in the office keep telling me to simply ask for a flight upgrade. One colleague said she's asked 3 times and once got bumped up to first. I'd be bowled over by Business class. Any advice and or tips on bribes, mehtods to get an upgrade by asking|?

I find that my male business colleagues always get bumped when they flirt. Doesn't work for me. Also, don't act like you'll be bowled over... they like to make frequent flyers happy so you have to look the part. Blase but friendly but casual but business but handsome.....

I've read comments about this before and also some articles written by travel pros and so decided to try my hand at getting an upgrade on a recent trip home from Mexico. I approached the ticket counter at the gate and asked "is there any chance that we (my husband and I) could get an upgrade to first-class if there is availability?" Well, the ticket agent looked at me as if I had two-heads and said that the flight was full, but he could put us on a list and HOW WOULD I BE PAYING FOR THAT?. I felt like shrinking into a puddle. Needless to say, after take-off we were able to notice that out of 20 first-class seats, only 8 seats were occupied. My husband was livid since we are loyal American Airlines customers, using American on 99% of our trips. I even emailed them, but they stood firm saying they upgrade to 1st class when payment is made. Maybe some other airlines are more lenient. Just thought I'd vent about this.

What a crock of crap...look people, first class is for those that are willing to pay the price up front, or those that are VERY frequent fliers, or those who can use frequent flier upgrade certificates. Why should you expect to pay for a discounted coach ticket and then get upgraded to first class? If you want to sit there you can buy a ticket, buy an upgrade, or cash in some miles...otherwise shut your belly aching yaps and sit in the back of the plane where you riff raff belong.

Nigel, couldn't agree more. I find Maria's indignation over her situation quite amusing. If you fly American that frequently, you would know that you shouldn't ask for an upgrade at the ticket counter. It's priceless that you then e-mailed them to complain.

It's worth a shot to ask but they will make you feel stupid when you get denied. As a frequent flyer and it amazes me what it takes to get upgrades with a million miles let alone zero. It's totally a judgement call and certainly don't plan on the upgrade because disappointment is not way to begin a vacation.

I've actually been upgraded to first class several times on domestic flights. I fly often but not I wouldn't consider myself a very frequent flyer. I learned long ago that it never hurts to ask. It also seems to work better by asking the gate agent instead of the ticket agent. <BR><BR>However, I have never been able to get an upgrade for an overseas flight.<BR><BR>jpm

My motto is: If you don't A-S-K, you won't G-E-T. Always be prepared to get turned down, don't take it personally, but don't stop asking. I have asked to be bumped and then asked for all kinds of compensation and have received it. I have never, however, asked to be upgraded. But I think I will. It can't hurt. The only time I have been upgraded to first was when my neighbor was the ticket agent and had to move me to another flight due to mechanical problems. She upgraded me without me asking. I have been a very good neighbor to her since then!

I just purchased 2 BusinessFirst tickets on Delta with 160,000 flyer miles. I spent several years saving these miles for this trip. About 2 yrs. ago I had first class tickets on a domestic flight and my flight was cancelled. On the alternate flight, several business travelers told me they were called by Delta and upgraded the day before to first class, so even though I had been holding my ticket for 1 YEAR, they were in FC for no reason and I was asked to fly in coach if I wanted to get home! Needless to say I threw a fit and did end up in an old 727 FC seat... received nothing but a drink & peanuts. I don't care if someone can talk their way into a FC or business seat, but if I have paid for my ticket, either with miles or $$, I expect to get one. I don't understand why they upgrade travelers the day before when they don't know what the weather or the flying conditions the next day will be like.

My personal experience is that it has been easier to get upgrades going to the U.S. than leaving from it...but only on airlines where I am a premium FF passenger. I did get one upgrade to biz class after I had taken a bad fall and injured my knee, after asking VERY politely and then only because there were several seats left over. Are you sure your colleague really got upgraded to First just by asking? I think the story has either been exaggerated or there's more to it than you've been told. If it were possible to get free upgrades simply by asking, the poor gate agents would be besieged before every flight.

It never hurts to ask. Nothing personal. My son always asks for a Porche for Christmas knowing he'll never get one, but hey, one never knows.<BR><BR>I always ask, even though I have little frequent flyer status. One never knows. Coming back from Paris a month ago with a friend, we couldn't get seats together. She was approached by someone seated in business class who wanted to sit next to his girlfriend in coach and asked if she would change seats. In a heartbeat!!! One never knows.

Just ask nicely: simply say you were wondering if there was any availability in First or Business Class, as you'd like to upgrade if possible. If they tell you that you'd have to pay, ask how much. Sometimes it's not as much as you'd think. If you hope to get in without paying, don't wear sweatpants. I've always had better luck getting upgrades when I'm dressed decently (which doesn't happen often for me on overseas flights).<BR><BR>Be nice, not gushing, to the ticket agent.

I fully agree that if you don't pay for first-class you shouldn't expect first-class, but my "indignation" arises from the fact that the airlines weren't too "humiliated" to ask our government for help for their loss of profits, and would think they would/should bend over backwards to retain their customers. I had never asked to be upgraded before and I do fly frequently, but the attitude of the ticket agent really ticked me off, not to mention that he out and out lied saying first-class was completely filled. And by the way, I was not wearing sweatpants when I approached the counter.

You will always have better luck being upgraded at the gate, not at the ticket counter, and as previously advised before dress in business or business casual attire -- not jeans, sweats (pink or otherwise), or sneakers. Also, each airline ticket has a letter code on it, which signifies the type of ticket it is. Passengers purchasing heavily discounted coach tickets like K class, or tickets purchased through consolidators will rarely if ever be upgraded, even if you are holding an enormous amount of FF points. However, if you have purchased a full fare coach ticket, or one closely priced to full fare, and the plane is not filled to capacity in business class, you will have a better chance of getting upgraded. Also, if you're buying tickets through travel agents, many of them hold a supply of upgrade vouchers that can be used based on availability. The vouchers don't cost anything and are an incentive for passengers, so feel free to ask for one or more from your ticket agent.<BR><BR>Lastly, if you fly frequently, get to know the territory sales manager of the particular airline you fly. Frequently, just making that acquaintance and following up by telephone or email can get you a free upgrade based on availability.<BR><BR>I can tell you that I have had great experiences being upgraded to Business Class on British Airways having purchased $200 - $300 roundtrip tickets. And, it is quite pleasant sitting in BA's private lounges when you have to now get to the airport at least 3 hours in advance of the flight. Of course, I've only been able to get these perks flying to London because I know the Boston sales manager. I suppose I need to meet the London sales manager for an upgrade on the return leg home.

My husband and I traveled to Paris in October. Our travel agent suggested that we ask for an upgrade. We came so very close to NOT asking, but mustered up the courage, as we had a very friendly counter ticket agent....and, yes, she gave us an upgrade to first class! What a wonderful experience! It does not hurt to ask.

Here's a funny story to add to the giggles on this thread. After my bf witnessed a women using a subtle move to "grease the palm" of the gate agent for an upgrade, my bf tried the same method with success. The next time I flew alone, I gave this method a try, but just couldn't master the subtle handshake move to exchange the cash. While crammed in coach, I plotted my next strategy; I decided I would put the cash in my ticket folder, hand the folder to the agent and flash my most clever smile while asking for an upgrade. I did this on the next leg; the agent took my folder, opened it, and proceeded to give me a loud, but caring, lecture about how careless it was of me to keep cash in my ticket folder (and of course, also informed me that the front cabin was full). He must have felt sorry for me though, because he gave me a stack of free drink/movie coupons!

We traveled on Icelandair last May...we had been married that morning and were spending our wedding night flying to Scotland...I had the marriage certificate in my purse but they never even asked to see it when I explained why we were requesting an upgrade...business class was just fine, we enjoyed the champagne and felt special. At least I didn't feel like I was making up a story to get the bump, it was a one-time only situation (I hope!)

We just returned on American from Rio business class...a luxury my husband agreed to as a treat for me. However,w e needn't have bothered since the plane was half empty and people in coach who could get two or three seats to lie down had as much rest as we did. I think that you should pay for what you get, why not?

My personal experience has been that if you are gold tier FF and if the cabin is overbooked, you have excellent chance of getting upgarde without even asking. They bump FF from coach to Business class, and then business class FF to first. Agents know the flight is overbooked and by how mnay, so they 'hold' your boarding pass without telling you anything until everybody gets on board, and then exchange your boarding pass to higher class. Sometimes they even come to your seat and "ask" if you want to be upgraded in order to accommodate late arriving coach or business class passengers. I think airlines usually go by the FF status although I don't believe they will strictly adhere to that policy because it may take re-seating just about everybody which is time-consuming.

Tom,<BR>On Delta there is no first class, buisness class IS the front of the plane.