Five easy ways to fly first class ... without paying for it
— -- These days, most of us resign ourselves to flying in coach. It's the cheapest way to travel by air, and if we have to put up with cramped seating, minimal legroom, and reduced (or nonexistent) amenities—well, at least it's a relatively cheap way to travel on a short-haul flight. But for longer flights, the idea of a first- or business-class upgrade becomes more attractive. Bigger seats, more legroom, and several meal options? Yes, please.
"Your vacation essentially starts when you board the aircraft," says Matthew Bennett, CEO of FirstClassFlyer.com. "A first-class seat can help you absorb jet lag and get over all the nuisances and grumblings that you inevitably experience flying economy class."
For most of us, though, the high price of first class is what keeps us squeezed in at the back of the plane rather than resting comfortably up front. That's where upgrades come in. Here are some great tips for getting a comfier seat on your next flight.
Rack up miles
The best way to cash in your frequent flyer miles is to apply them toward an upgrade. You get more bang for your buck, and availability is generally more plentiful. "If there isn't availability for a free seat, there may be availability for an elite upgrade," says Bennett. "Especially now with capacity cuts and flight reductions, there are fewer economy seats, but a surplus of first- and business-class seats. Sometimes people will design a trip around economy class availability, rather than looking for upgrade availability."
Sites such as ExpertFlyer take some of the guesswork out of finding an available seat. You can track what's on offer, both for upgrades and economy seats, and access specific prices, routes, and other flight information.
You should also take advantage of mileage-accruing credit cards to build up your mileage base through everyday purchases. Retail and travel promotions often give you double miles, while cross-provider offers (from hotels and rental car companies, for example) will often net you even more miles. You'll get the requisite number of miles needed for an upgrade much faster than by flying alone.
Related Stories
ABC News Live