How to Get Cheap First Class Flights
- 1). Join the rewards club offered by your primary airline. If you accumulate enough miles to earn a preferred status level, the airline is likely to give you preference for free upgrades or reduced-price upgrades in the future. Many airlines offer alternate ways to accumulate club miles, such as shopping, staying in hotels and opening a credit card associated with the airline.
- 2). Choose a flight that is likely to have a full economy section and a rather empty first class section. On some airlines you're able to determine this by examining the seating chart before purchase. With a full economy class the airline will be looking to free up seats, and will be more open to providing upper class tickets at a discount.
- 3). Book a full-fare economy ticket and then upgrade your ticket to first class. If you have frequent flier miles, check if you can upgrade using those. Many airlines offer upgrades for miles, but only for travelers with full-fare tickets. Upgrading to a first class ticket a few days before the flight can often save you money, but if you're on a flight with a packed economy section and wait to ask for an upgrade until you reach the airport, there's a reasonable chance that your first class ticket will be a fraction of the normal cost.
- 4). Dress nicely when you fly. When airlines need to move passengers from economy to first class, they choose people who look like they belong in the first class section. If you approach the ticket counter politely and you are looking sharp, the representative may put a note on your ticket indicating that you are eligible for upgrade, should the need arise.
- 5). Try to upgrade only the flights that you take alone. Airlines will almost never offer free upgrades to families with children, and it is more difficult to obtain discount upper class tickets for people traveling in a group than it is for solo travelers.
