How to get upgraded to first class on a flight

Free upgrades to first class aren’t as common as they once were. But savvy fliers might still find ways to move up front by using credit card rewards miles or earning status with an airline loyalty program.

Learn more about airline seat upgrades and how to snag one for your next trip.

What you’ll learn:

• Using credit card miles can be one of the most straightforward ways of upgrading to first class on a flight.

• Joining an airline loyalty program could also help you maximize rewards and earn upgrades. 

• If you’re paying for a first-class upgrade, using a credit card could help you earn rewards on your purchase.

• Booking travel through a platform like Capital One Travel could give you the chance to earn elevated rewards.

• You can even earn extra rewards on trips booked through Capital One Travel using eligible credit cards.

There’s no guaranteed way to get a flight upgrade. But using and combining some of these tips might help you upgrade to a seat at the front of the plane.

One way to avoid paying out of pocket for first-class or business-class upgrades is to redeem the miles you’ve earned using a travel credit card. Keep in mind that the number of miles required for an upgrade can change based on your card, the flight or the airline. 

With Capital One travel credit cards, cardholders can earn unlimited miles. Then when it’s time to book travel, they can redeem their miles for flights, hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals.

Joining a loyalty program can offer rewards for flying with a particular airline, shopping with the airline’s partners and more. Building up your rewards balance could even put you into an elevated, or elite, status with the airline. And some airlines reward elite members with complimentary seat upgrades.

Airlines sometimes offer incentives to passengers who agree to be bumped from an oversold flight and take a later flight. In exchange, those passengers might be rewarded with a travel credit or free upgrade they could put toward a future first-class flight.

It’s hard to plan for bumps. Offers might differ from one airline to another. As a flight’s takeoff time draws closer, airlines might increase offers to encourage passengers to volunteer.

It’s possible that a polite request at your flight’s departure gate could open the door to an upgrade—especially if there are unsold seats on the plane. While there’s no guarantee, being courteous and flexible can sometimes work in your favor.

If you’re traveling for a special occasion, such as a honeymoon, it might help to mention that too.

Traveling at off-peak times could mean emptier planes and more unsold premium seats. To increase your chances for an upgrade, you could consider booking overnight red-eye flights, midweek departures and flights during low-demand travel seasons.

Credit card miles, travel credits and airline loyalty programs could help you land a seat in first class. You may also be able to take advantage of things like credit card bonuses and upgrade tricks. 

If you’re looking for a credit card that offers elevated travel rewards designed to take you further, you could consider Venture X. With Venture X, you can earn double miles on every purchase and even more on trips booked through Capital One Travel. That means 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights, vacation rentals and activities.