Want To Score A Travel Upgrade? Read This
Here are my tips for scoring a free upgrade and a reason why I always say NO to one type of upgrade to make my holidays more budget-friendly.
Trying to save money when booking a holiday can be a daunting task. After all, there are so many details to consider—including the cost of getting there, accommodation options and spending money—not to mention all the extras on top!
HERE ARE MY TIPS ON HOW TO GET A FREE FLIGHT UPGRADE
Getting an upgrade sounds great, especially when you're traveling long haul on a plane.
I was flying with my Mum from Warsaw to Barcelona. Mum was in Business Class, I was in Economy. I asked at check-in if we could fly together in Business and was told there were no seats. Then, to my surprise at the gate, the crew gave me a new boarding pass for Business Class. Another time I was flying in Business from Singapore to London (booked on points) and asked if there were any seats in First. Again, I was told no, but then when it came to boarding my pass was swapped to a First seat. Other instances included asking for earlier flight changes which were also accepted without additional fees.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF A FLIGHT UPGRADE
Check seat availability on your flight in the higher class online 24 hours and again 12 hours before your travel time. Some airlines will show availability as close as 3 hours before the flight which means all pre-requested points upgrade seats have been allocated already. This will give you an idea of whether there are any seats available.
When checking in, be as polite to the staff as possible and make sure to say hello, ask them how they are, and ask about their day.
Mention that you saw that there were some seats still available in the higher class that morning and if there was a possibility of an upgrade - just in case they are overbooked in economy/coach.
They might say no at the check-in desk but if the flight is oversold in the lower class, they will flag you as someone who was polite and interested in moving up so you might get a surprise at the boarding gate.
Consider joining airline loyalty program(s)
Try to fly with one airline to earn higher status. Having some sort of loyalty or status with the airline. If you're a silver, gold, or platinum frequent flyer your chances of an at-check-in or at-gate upgrade go up exponentially over anyone who is a first-time customer.
Join the airline membership program to earn status and credit points for flying (dining, shopping, etc). This way you will also be able to use points to upgrade flights before you travel or at the airport with points.
HERE ARE MY TIPS ON HOW TO GET A FREE ROOM UPGRADE
Room upgrades to a suite or a room with a better view are a nice bonus.
I've gotten a free room upgrade numerous times at hotels, family holiday parks and serviced apartments on many trips.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF A ROOM UPGRADE
Check room availability at the hotel before you check in using their website booking system. This will give you an idea of what rooms are currently available.
When checking in, be as polite to the staff as possible and make sure to say hello, ask them how they are, and ask about their day.
Mention that you saw that there was a higher standard room available and if there was a possibility of an upgrade.
They might say no but sometimes they will offer complimentary access to the lounge or free breakfast instead.
Consider joining hotel loyalty program(s)
Again, try to earn status. Having some sort of loyalty or status with a hotel chain will increase your chances of an upgrade.
By joining their program way you will also be able to use points to book and upgrade rooms, get extra perks like free breakfast or parking included.
You will be able to book cheaper rates via the hotel website (although many times I prefer using aggregate sites and getting upsized cash back through cashback apps such as Shopback (AUS), Rakuten (US) or TopCashback (UK) which allow you to get as much as 20% back in cash on your bookings (shopping and more).
ONE TYPE OF UPGRADE I ALWAYS SAY NO TO
Many airlines and hotels will try to entice you to book a seat in a higher-class cabin or upgrade your room by offering you a discounted PAID upgrade.
On our recent holiday, we were offered a paid room upgrade to a 1 bedroom villa (as opposed to a 1 bedroom cabin that pretty much had the same facilities it was just a touch more dated and did not have an outdoor table and chairs on the deck. The price? $50 a night = $350 for our 7-night stay.
For me? A paid upgrade is a big no. Why?
Because once I have made my booking I have settled on the lowest standard of travel or room I am HAPPY with. If all you need is basic accommodations then there is no need to splurge on a suite; opting for a standard room will still provide comfort and convenience without breaking the bank!
And that extra money can be put towards food, drinks and experiences. Simple and so much more budget-friendly!
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