With everyday costs at a high, travellers want to get more from what they spend. With that in mind, we asked travel experts to share their tried-and-tested tips for getting an upgrade on flights, at hotels and on cruises.
But she adds that there are still tricks travellers can use to put themselves in line for an upgrade. Here’s how to up your chances, according to those in the know.
Jiayi Wang, a content creator and the founder of The Diary Of A Nomad blog, says: “Being part of a loyalty programme helps. Even if you don’t have elite status, you might get small perks – priority boarding, better seat selection – just for being enrolled. I’ve also been upgraded simply because I asked at check-in, especially when traveling solo or during off-peak times.”
Paying for one – but less than you think
Glusac says buying a business class seat may be cheaper than you would expect, if you upgrade after booking. “Often, travel companies will make a last-ditch effort to fill higher-end [spaces] by offering upgrades for a fee at check-in,” she adds.
Be flexible and look out for deals to secure free airport lounge access (Photo: Getty)There are two rules of thum: first, only bid if the upgrade price is significantly less than the original price of the higher class seat; second, make sure to bid slightly over the minimum as you’re more likely to stand out.
“Get in touch with the hotel, tell them why you’re excited to stay with them and express how grateful you’d be if an upgrade was available. The key thing is to be polite. I get messages every other day from people saying it’s worked for them.”
If it has one, register with the hotel’s rewards programme. Not only will this increase your chances of an upgrade should rooms be available, but you can make the most of discounts across the hotel’s restaurants and bars.
Becoming a regular can go a long way to getting an upgrade (Photo: Thomas M Barwick/Getty)“Consistency helps – when I’ve stayed at the same hotel [several] times or interacted with the staff regularly, upgrades started coming without me needing to ask.”
Upgrading your cruise cabin – show up early
“Cruises are a bit trickier,” says Wang. “But when I’ve worked with cruise agents [travel agents specialising in seaborne holidays], they’ve secured upgrades that weren’t publicly available. I once booked an inside cabin and ended up with an ocean view because the agent had access to a limited-time promo.”
Time it right and you could get a better cruise cabin, at a discount (Photo: Getty)
He has known of passengers being bumped up from inside cabins to sea-view ones with verandas, for free.
He also suggests checking your cruise line’s app for any freebies or discounts as soon as you get onboard.
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Read MoreHe also signs up to newsletters from airlines, hotel chains and cruise lines. “A lot of those limited-time upgrades or freebies are sent to subscribers first.”
Glusac suggests travelling on quieter days, a sentiment shared by Cat Jordan, from travel deals website Travelzoo. She suggests that travelling mid-week “makes you more likely to score an upgrade”.
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