Flying in coach class on an airplane can be a fairly unpleasant experience on certain routes – if you have ever spent 12 hours crammed into a tiny space, and had to suffer the person next to you getting up every 10 minutes to go to the bathroom, you will know exactly what I’m talking about! However, in front of the cramped coach class the promised land of first class is there tempting you all the time. The tickets are too expensive for most travelers to upgrade except on a very special occasion, but did you know that most airlines will actually offer free upgrades to some passengers, and there are things that you can do in order to boost your chances of getting one, and enjoying a trip in First Class for the price of a regular discounted ticket.

The first thing to do if you want to get a free upgrade is to be realistic. You are never guaranteed an upgrade, and on occasion you might have to pay a supplement, but it will never cost you the same as a full priced ticket and it may be worth considering if it is a really long flight.

On a flight where upgrades are likely to be offered, the ground crew will use a scoring system to decide who should be upgraded. They will normally give points to people who look smart, are regular travelers, and who are polite and well behaved.

Always make sure you travel in a smart outfit. The crew are more likely to upgrade a person who looks the part than someone in a pair of shorts and a ratty t-shirt – you don’t need to go overboard and wear a ball gown or dinner suit – be sensible and travel in a sports coat and slacks if you are a man, and a smart dress if you are a woman, and you will be more likely to be considered.

Because regular travelers are most likely to be upgraded – the airlines reason that if you experience the more luxurious end of the plane, then you are more likely to pay for it next time you fly – you should join the frequent flier club for the airline. This puts you up the queue for an upgrade. If you book through a travel agent rather than online, you can ask for them to add the code CIP to your booking. This marks you out as a commercially important passenger, and one that is important to their business.

If you turn up in plenty of time for the flight, do not make a fuss at check in, and ask politely if there is a possibility of an upgrade, the crew will know that you are interested. They may not offer you one right away, but they will remember. Never demand one, just be polite, and make a request for them to let you know.

If you don’t get an upgrade on the ground, don’t despair, if your seat is uncomfortable, or you are sitting next to a passenger who smells bad, bring it to the attention of one of the cabin crew, and they may well move you to another available seat. If there are none available in coach, then they will push you up to the front of the plane. Again, be polite about your request – the crew will more likely move the smelly person than you if you are rude!