If you rarely fly, you may mistakenly believe that first class seats, also commonly known as business class seats, are only for the rich. They are expensive, so only the rich must be able to afford them. This is not true. Did you know that many of the people sitting in first class did not pay full price for their ticket? In fact, some are relaxing in first class with a free upgrade from coach. How does this happen? How can you get an upgrade to first class?

1. Pay for an Upgrade

When it comes to paying for an upgrade, you have two options. Most airlines enable flyers to upgrade their seats to first class on their website. If you monitor your flight and know that first class is quickly filling, you may want to upgrade your seats in advance. You can usually do this on the airline’s reservation website or over-the-phone with a representative. You can also upgrade at the airport ticket counter. When checking in, ask if there are first class upgrades available for sale. If there are, purchase an upgrade. They are usually cheaper at the airport and at the last minute.
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