Receiving an upgrade to business class ranks among the top perks for frequent flyers. Business class offers wider seats, improved legroom, complimentary drinks, premium food selections, and additional luxurious amenities such as lie-flat seats during international flights. If you plan your trip in advance and understand how airline booking systems work, your chances of getting a free upgrade to Business Class increase significantly – meaning the airline changes your Economy ticket to Business without any additional expense on your part.

Although different rules and criteria exist within each company, we offer you 9 of the most useful tips:

1. Join loyalty programs

Firstly, if you wish to have the option to travel in Business class instead of Economy (without paying for it), it’s essential to be a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program that you’re flying with. Therefore, if you’re flying with a company for which you don’t have the ‘points card,’ it’s necessary to enroll in the program. The process is usually very straightforward; all airlines allow you to do it for free and instantly on their website.

2. Take care of your program level

The higher your frequent flyer level, the greater the possibilities. In situations of overbooking, as often happens in the summer, airlines start upgrading passengers from Economy to Business class starting with the highest-level loyalty program members.

3. Enter your frequent flyer number on the ticket a few days before flying

It’s crucial not to wait until reaching the airport to specify your membership in the frequent flyer program. Instead, do it at the time of purchase, ideally at least 24 hours before the flight.

4. Check-In from home

If there’s overbooking, there’s a chance for an upgrade. How to be one of the lucky ones? In addition to following the previous tips, it’s important to do the check-in from home about 24 hours in advance, which is when airlines normally allow it.

Flight personnel often know in advance which flights will be full, and that’s why they start moving passengers from one class to another before takeoff. But if the traveler hasn’t checked in, they won’t have opportunities to be upgraded, as the airline can’t be certain they will fly.

Some companies offer upgrades during online check-in for reduced prices (between 75 and 150 euros, depending on the flight duration), which can also be a good option.

Contrary to popular belief, flying Business Class doesn’t have to be much more expensive than Economy Class. In fact, if you plan your trip in advance and know well how airlines’ policies work, there are odds that you get a free “upgrade” to Business, that is to say, that the airline changes your ticket from Tourist to Business without any additional expense on your part.

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