The tried-and-tested hacks for getting free travel upgrades ...Middle East

Britons are loath to give up their holidays, even when money is tight. One in three adults reported that they would be unable to save in the next 12 months, according to the Office for National Statistics – yet research on consumer confidence in Europe (including the UK) found the intention to spend on travel was higher in the first quarter of this year compared with a year ago.

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.  

Elaine Glusac, the Frugal Traveler columnist for The New York Times, says that “upgrades are hard to get and harder these days as travel companies get smarter about filling airline seats, hotel rooms and cruise cabins with promotions and preferred offers to their frequent customers.” 

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. 

Chelsea Dickenson, who runs the website Cheap Holiday Expert, says that, using the advice of her followers, she has found 30 different ways that people managed to bag a flight upgrade for free.  That included emailing in advance, flying with a wedding dress, or simply being kind to the crew.

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.”

Airline loyalty programmes are free to join.

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.

The prices can be lower than if you had bought the seat to begin with. You will usually receive an email ahead of your flight if there are seats to be filled, with details of how to bid for an upgrade.

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.

Dickenson, whose website offers a handy email template for requesting an upgrade, says: “My biggest piece of advice is to just ask.

“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.”

David Haines is the head concierge at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London.  Ahead of arriving at a hotel, he recommends mentioning if it’s your birthday or a special occasion: “If rooms are available, you might get an upgrade.”

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)

Wang says loyalty, even without being a member of a scheme, can pay off.: “I usually book the cheapest room that still meets my needs and ask nicely at check-in if they have any complimentary upgrades available. If the hotel isn’t full, they often say yes.

“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.”

Paul Fournier, founder of travel guide website Journey Compass, suggests booking directly through the hotel, rather than through third-party sites. “Hotels are more willing to bump you up if it’s just for a night or two,” he adds.

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.”

Jackie Steele is a hospitality professional and author at Disney planning website Magic Guides. He has been on five sailings with Disney Cruise Line, and it has become his favourite. To increase the chance of an upgrade, “for Disney Cruise Line, showing up early at the port is worth it,” he says. “They don’t announce it, but if there’s space, you can get a better stateroom for less – or for nothing.”

He has known of passengers being bumped up from inside cabins to sea-view ones with verandas, for free. 

For all other cruise lines, Steele says it’s possible to get cabin upgrades at the port upon check-in. While they can come at a cost, it’ll often be less than the price it was at booking. “Your odds can increase if you’re a frequent cruiser, or if you reserved an earlier port arrival time when you did your online check-in. It’s first come, first served,” he says.

He also suggests checking your cruise line’s app for any freebies or discounts as soon as you get onboard.

“I once volunteered to take a later flight from Manila to Singapore because mine was overbooked,” says Fournier. “They gave me a seat in premium economy on the next flight, and lounge access.”

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He 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.”

His favourite is Singapore Airlines, which “sneak in promo codes or early upgrade offers”.

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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