Air travel can be an expensive proposition, particularly if enjoying creature comforts like extended legroom or enhanced meal and beverage service means something to you. In most instances, perks like these come at a steep price, but sometimes opportunities in the form of upgrades do present themselves. But when is the best time to seek them out, and are last-minute upgrades cheaper?
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Are Last-Minute Upgrades Cheaper?
Last-minute upgrades can be cheaper, but not always. There are many variables at play, and the odds of even getting an upgrade at all favor those with elite customer status. If seeking a cheap last-minute upgrade, it may be best to start looking early while keeping your expectations grounded.
While there are ways to improve your chances of scoring a less expensive, last-minute upgrade, it is important to understand how the upgrade game is played because the rules favor VIP customers and those who have demonstrated a high degree of loyalty (i.e., money spent) to one or more airlines.
Read on to learn the truth behind upgrading your seat at the last minute and pick up a few valuable tips along the way. Also dive in to know more on premium flying first class to hawaii information.
When Can You Do the Last Minute Upgrade?
The reality is, scoring a last-minute upgrade for cheap is not an easy thing to do, nor is it likely to happen. If it were a regular occurrence, then every passenger would simply book the cheapest flight possible and then finagle their way into a better seat with more perks.
But the more you know about the inner workings and unwritten rules regarding upgrades, the better you will be able to play the game and improve your chances of upgrading your seat while spending the least amount of money (or airline miles) possible.
There are certain instances when it is not only worth trying for a last-minute upgrade, but your chances of actually succeeding may never be better. Here are three notable circumstances when you can do the last-minute upgrade.
Do the Last Minute Upgrade By Invitation from the Airline
By sharing certain information, such as your email address, with an airline when you book a flight, not only are you able to receive the flight itinerary and your virtual boarding pass via email, but you can also receive communications directly from the airline.
In some cases, airlines may contact you via email to invite you to purchase an upgrade at a discounted rate. This can happen at any time after you purchase your ticket, but it is not uncommon for these offers to go out from the carrier upon check-in or shortly prior to departure in order to corral some last-minute takers (and revenue) for seats that would otherwise go unused.
Last Minute Upgrades for Points and Miles
If you are a member of any frequent flyer programs or a participant in any airline points programs, then you may be able to exchange your accumulated points and miles for an upgrade. Typically, airlines will accept upgrade requests from eligible passengers, and just prior to boarding, any available premium seats (e.g., in the business or first-class cabins) will be offered to elite customers first.
Bidding for a Last-Minute Upgrade
In recent years, more and more carriers are turning to a bidding system whereby eligible and motivated passengers can bid on available upgrades by submitting a particular dollar amount that they would be willing to pay to sit in a premium cabin.
Airlines establish both minimum and maximum bid amounts and invite certain passengers (e.g., members of their frequent flyer or VIP programs) to tender offers for a select number of seats. It is worth noting, however, that certain high-demand routes are typically excluded, and if a flight is sold out (or overbooked), then for obvious reasons, no bidding will take place at all.
As a testament to their growing popularity, dozens of airlines (and even cruise lines) now offer bidding programs for seat upgrades, including these notable carriers:
- Air Canada
- ANA
- Cathay Pacific
- Japan Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Qantas
- Singapore Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
While the mere act of submitting a bid certainly does not come close to guaranteeing an upgrade, it does provide certainty as far as knowing that you have set your own price should your bid be successful.
When Can You Not do the Last Minute Upgrade?
Getting a last-minute upgrade can be quite challenging, and getting one for cheap is, more often than not, exceedingly difficult. But there are certain circumstances when it is virtually impossible to do a last-minute upgrade.
If you find yourself in any of the following situations, you may be better off getting used to the idea that the seat you purchased is the one you will occupy for your entire flight.
Membership has its Privileges, and Upgrades are One of Them
If there is a common theme among last-minute upgrade success stories, it is that membership in frequent flyer programs or attaining VIP customer status definitely has its privileges. After all, if there is anyone that an airline is likely to bestow perks like cheap upgrades upon, it will be customers who have spent a lot of money with the carrier and will likely continue to do so as long as their loyalty is rewarded.
Thus, being enrolled in an airline’s frequent flyer or mileage program is a prerequisite to seeking a last-minute upgrade. In fact, if you are not a member of the reward program of the airline you are flying, you need not even bother trying to get a last-minute upgrade because those perks will surely go to other passengers who, in the eyes of the airline, are more deserving.
Certain Routes are not Upgrade Eligible
An important fact to keep in mind when booking a flight with the intention of pursuing a last-minute upgrade is that not all routes flown by airlines are eligible for upgrades. In reality, there are many types of flights where either upgrades are strictly limited or not available at all. For instance, upgrades are usually not offered, or they are sparsely available on the following routes:
- Select coast-to-coast or transcontinental flights
- Certain routes to Hawaii
- Most long-haul (e.g., international) flights
By the same token, there are certain airports or regions that should be avoided for particular airlines because they serve as a major hub for that carrier. The rationale here is that by flying out of an airport where a large proportion of an airline’s flights are based, you are more likely to encounter (and therefore compete for upgrades against) that carrier’s elite customers and VIP members.
The lesson here is to fly out of smaller airports and minor hubs to improve your odds of scoring that last-minute upgrade. If circumstances dictate that you must fly out of an airport that is a major hub for the carrier you are flying with, you should be prepared for the likelihood that your ticket will not be eligible for an upgrade – cheap, last-minute, or otherwise.
Certain Tickets are not Upgradeable
The airline industry is a fiercely competitive industry, and air travel has become more complex as a result. There was a time when there were only three types of cabins on an airplane: economy (coach) class, business class, and first-class. Now, there are hybrid classes like premium-economy that complicate the calculation of fares and the perks that are offered with them, like upgrades.
Want to experience the luxury of business class without breaking the bank? Check out our expert tips to get business class tickets for cheap and discover strategies to score last-minute upgrades at affordable prices.
As a general rule, the cheapest tickets sold on a flight will likely not be eligible for an upgrade. Furthermore, many carriers limit the availability of upgrades to certain seat classes. There are other restrictions and types of fares where upgrades are not offered, including:
- Traveling as part of a group fare
- Traveling with an oversized luggage allowance (for instance, a large musical instrument or athletic equipment)
- Trips with multiple legs, stopovers, or connecting flights will often be classified according to the lowest fare and therefore be ineligible for upgrade
- Certain types of fares, including special promotional pricing and fully refundable tickets, are commonly not eligible for upgrades
If your end game is upgrading to a premium cabin, it is in your best interest to read the fine print on your ticket and make sure that the fare you are purchasing is, in fact, eligible for an upgrade. Otherwise, you may be in for a very unpleasant surprise when you go for that last-minute bump up in class.
Or, are Upgrades Cheaper at Check-In?
The digital age has made air travel as easy as opening an app on your smartphone and tapping and typing your way to a booked flight. Checking in for a flight can be done in much the same way, and there are instances when during virtual check-in, a last-minute upgrade is offered by the airline.
While such occurrences are hardly predictable or reliable, they do happen and strengthen the case that upgrades are cheaper at check-in (particularly the virtual variety).
Are Upgrades Cheaper at the Gate?
According to airline insiders and social media sites for travelers, extraordinarily cheap (as in free) upgrades can and do occur at the gate. While they are far from a common occurrence anymore, they do happen just enough times to be an intriguing possibility.
But they are also exceedingly difficult to obtain, and their availability is influenced by factors that may be completely out of the passenger’s control, including:
- The number of available seats in forward cabins just prior to departure
- The number of passengers seeking upgrades (i.e., the competition)
- Whether the particular flight is empty or oversold
Not to mention, not only are all of these variables at play when seeking a last-minute upgrade, if you choose to wait until just before boarding to try your luck, ultimately, your fate may be determined by the whims of whatever airline employee happens to be stationed at the gate.
One fact that will always be working in your favor is that the airlines have their bottom line and shareholders in mind, so if there is money to be made on an otherwise open seat by doing a last-minute upgrade at the gate, they will surely take the opportunity to make the flight more profitable.
Is Trying to Get that Last Minute Upgrade Worth It?
There is a convincing argument to be made that waiting until the last minute to do an upgrade is counterproductive because, by that point, other passengers (perhaps more deserving by virtue of having elite or VIP status) have already requested or been automatically granted a bump in travel class.
And yet, last-minute upgrades do happen, and they can be secured for a great price. So while the likelihood of getting a cheap, last-minute upgrade should not be taken for granted or assumed when purchasing a lower fare ticket, it should not be dismissed either.
Takeaways
When it comes to air travel, particularly trips taken for pleasure rather than business, it should be about the destination and not how you get there. But with a little bit of savviness along with some initiative, a cheap upgrade may be the reward for good timing, persistence, and, yes, some luck.
With properly grounded expectations, you may just score a last-minute upgrade and find yourself flying in comfort and style. As the saying goes, the answer is always no if you don’t ask.