Upgrade Yourself - upgrading airline tickets to first class - Brief Article

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, March, 2001 by Ed Henry, Josephine Rossi

TRAVEL | Here's how to escape the cramped cabin and FLY FIRST-CLASS.

Poor BILL Clinton. Of all the perks he gave up January 20, trading Air Force One for the Delta Shuttle has to be one of the toughest. He conceded as much in a sermon he gave as a guest preacher at Washington's Foundry United Methodist Church a couple weeks before his term in office ended.

"I anticipate that my Christian bearing will be tested by a return to commercial air travel," he told the congregation, "where I will reap the rewards of not having succeeded in one of the things I tried very hard to do, which was to end all those backlogs."

But it's doubtful that the former president will be suffering indignities with the masses in the cramped coach section of a plane. More likely he'll while away any delays in the front section reserved for the elite. Regardless of your politics, there's a good chance that you'd like to join him and others who get first-class treatment, including cushier seats, more legroom, and better food and service. Fortunately, there are ways to do it without paying the ransom that is full first-class fare.

In fact, Terry Trippler, airline-travel consultant to OneTravel.Com, reports that fewer than one in ten people in first-class pays the published fare. Instead, the vast majority of those you pass as you trudge to the back of the plane are riding in style with upgrades from coach. That's why first-class sections on many flights are packed to capacity. So how can you join them?

Actually, there are many ways, but it's getting harder every day. Part of the reason is that reciprocal agreements between airline alliances have created more frequent fliers racking up the miles that are the real currency for buying first-class status. Also, the airlines have changed the way upgrades are awarded. "Most programs have gone to electronic upgrades, which are automatically doled out to the airlines' best customers," says Randy Petersen, editor of InsideFlyer magazine.

Your chances of putting upgrades on autopilot are best if you travel 25,000 to 100,000 miles a year, are considered an elite member of a frequent-flier program, and hold a silver, gold or platinum credit card. Some airlines will automatically upgrade elite cardholders when they book a flight. Others issue upgrade certificates to favored passengers 24 to 72 hours before a flight, once it becomes clear that seats will be available.

Not-so-frequent frequent fliers. You can break into first-class without attaining elite status in frequent flier-dom by using miles to buy an upgrade. For example, if you use 20,000 frequent-flier miles to buy a ticket for a domestic flight, 10,000 more might put you in the front of the plane. International upgrades can cost from 20,000 to 40,000 extra miles, depending on the base fare.

For those paying full coach fare, Trippler suggests checking out America West, Continental, Northwest and US Air. On these airlines, full fare automatically gets you into first-class if a seat is available. That can be a boon for lucky travelers who book at the last minute and can't qualify for any discounts.

You can always buy a first-class upgrade by paying the difference in fare; but some airlines upgrade members of their frequent-flier clubs for a nominal cost. For example, US Airways sells upgrades for $50 for trips up to 799 miles, $100 for trips up to 1,599 miles and $150 for longer flights. Ask about similar upgrades when you fly American, Continental or United.

E-fares pay off. In fact, it always pays to ask about an airline's upgrade policies. For instance, passengers who use Northwest's electronic ticketing to buy nonstop tickets can get an upgrade good for up to 750 miles of first-class treatment for $25. For up to 2,100 miles, the cost is $35. Moving up front for longer flights will cost you $50. You typically buy these upgrades when you purchase the electronic fare, although you can try for one at the counter if you have an electronic ticket. The upgrade is good only if there's an empty seat in first-class at the time of the flight. If not, you can hold on to it for another flight.

It's often up to the gate agents' discretion to grant an upgrade, so it pays to ask for one if you've been inconvenienced by the airline. "Our goal is to give our gate agents the ability to satisfy a customer if they feel it's appropriate," says a spokesman for Northwest. For example, if you're bumped from one flight, ask for a first-class seat on the next flight as part of your compensation.

While charming your way into first-class is getting tougher, there are times when a pleasant demeanor and a simple request will pay off. And remember this: The better dressed you are, the better your chances of landing a seat with the gentry rather than riding with the hoi polloi.