My Secret to Snagging Seat Upgrades for Free

Who hasn’t glanced wistfully at the jet set while shuffling through the first-class cabin on your way to the cheap seats? Snagging the extra legroom and complimentary service would be a sweet score, but shelling out a few extra hundred dollars per person for the privilege seems a steep price to pay for a seat upgrade.

Our family frequently travels, especially my spouse for business. We’ve gotten our share of free seat upgrades on flights and are here to offer some wisdom about how to get bumped up on your next flight without putting a dent in your bank account.

10 ways to get a seat upgrade on your next flight

A little extra legroom and early boarding options make business and first class a luxury most travelers can appreciate. Here are some strategies my family uses to snag upgrades without paying full price.

1. Avoid full flights to maximize opportunities

This is pretty simple math. You can’t get upgraded to a better seat if there are simply no extra seats available on your flight. Generally, more seats available mean more opportunities to be upgraded. 

Booking your ticket on slower travel days, typically in the middle of the week, helps avoid full flights. You can also search for flights that leave very early or very late (hello, red eye) to see if you can get a seat to yourself with extra room to stretch out.

The exception to this rule is if you end up on an overbooked flight and have flexible travel plans. Airlines will usually extend compensation — including free upgrades, miles and other perks — to travelers willing to catch a later flight.

2. Don’t wait until boarding to ask for an upgrade

If you’ve ever sat and watched gate agents call dozens of people up to the podium before a flight, you’ve likely realized those agents have all the power in the seat upgrade process. 

Flight attendants take their cues from the ground on seat changes, so your best bet is to let the gate agent know ahead of boarding that you’re interested in moving up.

There will typically be a list of travelers who’d like a seat upgrade and your place on that list will determine whether you get one. That brings us to the next piece of advice.

3. Check in early and often

You know those messages you get to check into your flight the day before it leaves? Don’t ignore those. 

Check in early online or in the app and look at the seating chart to see how much wiggle room you can expect or to join the upgrade list. If your flight is delayed, peek at seating assignments again because a lot can change if travelers are missing connecting flights. 

For instance, one of the silver linings to being on a recent flight out of JFK that was delayed twice is that by the time we boarded, the field of open seats in first-class and elsewhere had opened up to allow for plenty of free upgrades. 

4. Sign up for a frequent flyer program

If you’re loyal to a specific airline and fly often, one way to grab free seat upgrades is to join its frequent flyer program. These loyalty programs can offer perks like free upgrades to first or business class, early boarding, access to exclusive airport lounges and waived baggage fees.

“I typically earn Platinum status, which means 85% of the time I get an upgrade from basic to comfort plus,” says my frequent flyer spouse, who exclusively flies Delta. “This means earlier boarding, more legroom, extra snacks and free alcohol. This is quite nice when you travel a lot. And maybe more importantly, you are in the front of the airplane so you exit the plane faster.”

5. Earn upgrades with an airline or travel credit card

If you don’t fly often enough to earn elite frequent flyer status benefits, consider applying for a travel or an airline credit card to enjoy many of the same perks.

Having the airline’s credit card can be a one-way ticket to top-tier status and that coveted first-class seat. The best travel credit cards offer similar perks like priority seating and waived baggage fees, and many let you transfer your rewards to an airline partner. 

Some airline and travel credit cards do have an annual fee, so you’ll want to make sure you earn enough rewards to make the extra money worth it. For instance, American Airlines’ AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®* lets you earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after you make your first purchase and pay the $99 annual fee in the first 90 days of card ownership. That’s enough miles to cover several seat upgrades.

6. Ask the gate agent nicely for a better seat

“You’ll never know unless you ask” is a cliche but don’t underestimate the power of courtesy. If you’d really like to switch your seat to something a little more comfy, ask the gate agent nicely. Make eye contact, be respectful and use their name if you can. 

If you have a specific reason like a health condition or other issue that makes changing your seat assignment a priority, say so. For instance, being seated in an exit row when you’re not physically capable of performing the required duties is a pretty standard reason for a seat change.

7. Fly with a minor to score (better) seats together

Crammed into the last available middle seat when you’ve got a baby on board? The crew has a vested interest in making sure you and your little one can be comfortable, so chat with a gate agent about a better seating arrangement.

On a flight out of Salt Lake City, my pre-teen daughter and I couldn’t get seats next to each other on a full flight. After checking in with a gate agent before boarding, we got bumped to the top of the upgrade list and ended up sitting side by side enjoying the extra legroom in Delta’s Comfort Plus section.

8. Flying solo makes it easier to get an upgrade

One may be the loneliest number, but you’re more likely to nab a free seat upgrade when traveling solo.

It’s similar to the phenomenon that happens when restaurants seat smaller parties first. It’s a lot easier (and more likely) that the gate agent will be able to shuffle around a party of one versus a party of three or four.

9. Alert the flight attendant if there’s something wrong

Once you board the aircraft, your chance for a seat upgrade has likely passed you by, with one exception. If your seatbelt is broken, your seat doesn’t recline or your seatback screen is broken, summon the flight attendant before takeoff.

If there is an extra spot somewhere, the crew may shuffle things around to get you into a more comfortable, fully functioning seat. If not, you could be eligible for some sort of compensation like free drink or food vouchers.

10. Look for bargains and bid on upgrades

While a free upgrade is the goal, there are also some relatively cheap ways to score a better seat on your next flight. Some airlines like Lufthansa, Aer Lingus and Air Canada will auction off premium seats on certain routes.

The cost of your upgrade will depend on the length of the flight. Shorter flights may only cost $100-$200 to upgrade your seat while longer hauls like those between Los Angeles and New York may cost upwards of $500-$600 per person.

Is the price tag for premium or priority seating worth it? That’s a question only you can answer.  

*All information about the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.