If you’ve ever flown long-haul in economy, you’ll know it’s not the most comfortable of experiences.
From limited leg room to waking your snoring neighbour to use the bathroom, the journey is simply a means to an end.
However, for the lucky few who can afford to fly business class — or in the hallowed halls of first class — the flight is part of the fun.
This was the realisation of Metro’s Mel Evans, whose first-ever business class trip from Heathrow to Sydney ‘ruined’ future flights for life.
With free champagne on tap, aisle-access spacious cabins, and Bulgari freebies, it was worlds away from what she was used to. But then again, what else would you expect from a £5,435 ticket?
In the knowledge that the majority of us can’t afford such luxury trips, we asked Metro readers to share their experiences of being upgraded for free.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
We’re positively green with envy.
Metro readers have their say
Mark Manning told us that he’s had the pleasure of being upgraded to business class not once, but twice. One of these experiences was on an Emirates Airbus A380 — the world’s largest passenger airliner.
In recent times, this aircraft has been dubbed ‘the plane that keeps breaking down.’ The faults partly stem from prolonged periods on the ground during the pandemic.
But clearly, there were no malfunctions during Mark’s trip. Rather, he felt like a ‘millionaire for seven hours,’ and ‘loved every minute’ of the journey.
Mark recalled lying down, sipping on champagne, eating ‘brilliant’ food, and making frequent trips to the bar upstairs.
‘If I were rich, I would fly business class every time,’ he said.
Metro’s business class reviews and hacks
From Emirates to British Airways to Finnair, find out what Metro‘s Travel team really thought of business class:
• British Airways business class review: I ‘turned left’ for the first time — here’s what nobody tells you
• Aer Lingus business class review: Never have I boarded and turned left, until now…
• The simple trick for flying ‘business class’ for less (travellers can’t get enough)
• ‘I flew to Hong Kong with Finnair: the business class cabins deserve their award-winning title’
For Linda Osborne, it was a fractured leg that swung the upgrade deal.
Like Mark, she flew with Emirates and called it the ‘perfect’ flight. She also said the airline is ‘one of the best by far.’
Sandra Fordham bagged her business class cabin by winning a bid on the way back from Dubai. Granted, this means her upgrade technically wasn’t free — many airlines allow passengers to bid for seats in premium economy, business class, or first class — but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than paying for a ticket outright.
‘It was amazing, I felt like royalty there,’ gushed Sandra, who also called the business class lounge in the airport ‘exceptional.’
As a newbie, Sandra joked that she and her husband were ‘pressing all the gadgets’ and in awe of everything available.
‘It was the only time I never wanted to get off a plane.’
When might airlines provide a free upgrade?
‘Upgrades — especially to first class — are elusive. But, they’re not impossible,’ says Jaroslaw Grabczak, Head of Commercial Product at Thomas Cook and eSky online travel agency.
He tells Metro that the most reliable method is through airline loyalty programmes: points or systemwide upgrades available to elite status holders.
For example, American Airlines Executive Platinum members can use ‘systemwide upgrades’ to jump from business to first, while Emirates Skywards offers cash and mile-based upgrades at online check-in.
Don’t fly enough to warrant a loyalty programme? Jaroslaw also says that flying solo can increase your odds. As does flexibility with timing.
He says that midweek and red-eye flights (overnight ones that depart late at night and arrive early the next morning) are less likely to be full, therefore your chances increase.
‘While rare, discretionary upgrades still exist,’ he adds. Dressing professionally and being polite might tilt the odds in your favour, especially if there’s an operational reason to reshuffle the cabin.
Again, while not strictly free, Jaroslaw states that last-minute paid upgrades are common. Airlines often release discounted first class seats 24 to 72 hours before departure, particularly if a cabin is undersold.
Finally, checking your reservation periodically can pay off. ‘Sometimes the price difference is just a few hundred pounds,’ he says.
Back in the early noughties, Mark Roden found himself in business class from London Heathrow to San Francisco.
Travelling with his partner at the time, he said airline staff picked them from a line of premium economy passengers and asked if they wanted to be upgraded.
‘It was an amazing experience: 12 choices on the menu, and faultless, silver service,’ Mark recalled, adding that the Virgin crew said he could try every choice if his ‘stomach could manage it.’
Mark said he enjoyed champagne for the ‘whole flight,’ which kept being topped up. He then slept it off in a private bed for the remaining hours.
‘I felt totally refreshed despite the eight-hour flight,’ he said.
Last but not least, Trevor Pearman was upgraded during a short-haul flight from Frankfurt to Manchester. Despite it being a 1 hour and 45 minute journey, he said he ‘made the most of every second.’
From continuous top-ups of free champers (there seems to be a theme here), to indulging in a ‘light lunch’ with ‘real knives and forks,’ he wished the journey was longer.
How to bag free hotel upgrades
Airline upgrades aren’t the only luxuries available when travelling.
Travel expert Chelsea Dickenson, and columnist for Metro’s Travel section, has an easy hack for hotel bump-ups, too.
While she stresses that you can’t always guarantee an upgrade, she says there’s no harm in sending a polite email asking for one.
You don’t need to be a newlywed, celebrity or influencer to get a better room: you just need to ask.
‘Some people feel awkward asking for an upgrade, which I understand, but think of it as giving the hotel an opportunity to show how great their customer service can be,’ Chelsea explains.
She says it helps to say why you’re excited to stay, and to be as kind and as complimentary as possible. Always make it clear you don’t expect anything, too.
‘Finding the name of the hotel guest manager often helps, and I’d recommend sending your email around three or four days before arrival for a short break, or a week before if you’re staying for longer,’ Chelsea recommends.
While it varies from place to place, if you email too far in advance, the hotel may still be waiting to see if they can sell the best rooms. Request too close, and the rooms may have already been allocated.
Read Chelsea’s guide plus her tried-and-tested email template here.
