Travel: Upgrade Your Travel Experience

A recent survey conducted for U.S. News & World Report suggests that frequent flyers are feeling hard done by. Nearly half of the travelers polled said that it's becoming increasingly difficult to swap loyalty miles for a ticket. They were also concerned about vendors raising the required number of miles for an award ticket or an upgrade to business class, and adding fees for a last-minute ticket obtained using miles. Many admitted to cashing in miles sooner, nervous about the state of the airline industry.

All is not lost though. Even if you fly only a few times a year, there are still ways to travel in better surroundings without spending a fortune. Try these techniques.

Stick with one carrier

Try to consolidate your business with one airline and let them know it. With the rise of low-budget carriers across North America, full-service airlines are still eager to reward loyal customers who might otherwise be tempted to move to a competitor. The Canadian industry is trying to reinvent itself right now and is very sensitive to competition.

Always look for upgrades

Upgrades are usually given to passengers based upon available space, frequent-flyer status and the fare paid. That's why looking for the rock bottom air fare is not always the preferred route. Paying an additional $35 more for a ticket could make you eligible for upgrades prohibited by fare restrictions for the deep discount tickets.

Buy upgrades rather than tickets

Consider redeeming frequent-flier miles for free upgrades instead of free fares. That way your flight may earn mileage credits, boosting your chances of meeting the required membership levels for preferred service like 'elite' status.

Fly on planes with larger business sections

The more higher-end seats on an airplane, the better your chances for upgrading. Airline web sites usually have a seat overview map so you can see which have larger top-class cabins.

Upgrade as early as possible

Upgradeable seats are limited. When economy class sells out though, airlines will often upgrade some passengers in order to fill the plane. Try to upgrade as soon as you book your flight or as soon as you're allowed to upgrade according to the frequent flyer program's regulations. Some airlines upgrade you right away; others automatically upgrade you at a set point prior to departure. Some require you to call or logon to request the upgrades when the upgrade window becomes available.

Avoid regular business hours

Saturdays, holidays, mid-day and late evenings are times when you won't see as many business travelers. You'll therefore have fewer competitors for high-end seats. If you choose to wait until you get to the gate, be strategic with your arrival times. Arriving early and taking the first flight of the day may sometimes help your odds. Without a long line of customers, agents are more likely to be relaxed and willing to accommodate you, suggest experienced airline staff.

Be politely persistent

You have four opportunities to determine your fate. When you book the flight, when you check in, when you arrive at the gate, and when finally board. Each of the people at these different points could just go ahead and upgrade you but not if you don't inquire. Be quick to advertise your willingness to forego the in-flight meal, assuming there is one. Meal planning is always a pre-flight hassle and this eliminates one objection.

Try to get bumped

When there are more passengers with confirmed reservations who show up for a flight than there are seats on the plane, somebody has to get bumped. Volunteering to give up your seat in oversold situations like this usually translates into upgrades, discounted tickets or other compensation. The compensation could be as little as a $50 voucher or it could go as high as $300. Often, you'll find yourself in business class on the next flight out if economy is also oversold on that flight.

Take a chance

If you're on a flexible travel schedule - say a student heading home from school - you can probably improve the odds of your getting bumped. Consider making a reservation when a flight is almost full. If there are only a handful of seats available at that point, somebody is likely to be bumped. If you select the last flight of the day, the highest compensation will likely apply. Remember though you could be sitting around for quite awhile before your actual departure.

Article submitted by Velma Carroll, Ten Star Financial Services.
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