6 Tips For Scoring Upgrades When You Travel

When airlines don't sell all of their first class seats or when the flight is oversold, they'll usually begin upgrading people with loyalty status. It's the same story for hotel loyalty programs. Remember that many airlines and hotels belong to a larger umbrella, and typically you'll score the same benefits from the partners of your preferred airline and hotel, too.

"Do all you can to stay loyal to your preferred airline to build up mileage and reach the top levels of frequent flyer programs," Tom Spagnola, senior vice president of supplier relations at CheapOair, told POPSUGAR. "As a bonus, use a loyalty credit card that helps you earn miles every time you make a purchase. The airlines can see your loyalty to your preferred airline and also the airline alliance that they're a part of."

You might not fly enough miles in a year to earn status with an airline (for the big ones, status normally starts at 25k miles plus a certain amount of dollars spent), but it's still important to pick one carrier and stick with it . . . and then save those miles! While a first-class flight to Europe typically costs thousands of dollars, it's usually much more attainable to book with miles. Be sure to learn your carrier's expiration policy, as some airlines have miles that never expire (while others do not).

Zachary Honig, editor-at-large at The Points Guy, advises travelers to be wary about using miles on shorter domestic flights, as the perks for an international upgrade are usually so much better. "While burning more miles might make sense now on a short domestic flight, an international business-class award will generally land you a lie-flat seat, getting you a solid meal and some quality sleep," he said.

Airlines will oversell flights, and sometimes there are issues finding seat assignments for larger groups or families traveling together. If you're traveling alone and have flexible plans, you could opt to take the next flight for a potential upgrade (or travel voucher, which you could use on a future flight to purchase an upgrade).

"In situations when flights are oversold and there are seat assignment issues with couples or families needing to sit together, I highly recommend you offer up your seat to help out other passengers," Spagnola explained. "Flight attendants appreciate the help trying to keep all of their passengers happy, so if you're traveling alone or don't mind being separated from your group, be flexible. I've done this myself many times, and have been put into business or first class when there was availability."

The secret might be in your wallet right now, and we're not talking about cash! Check to see if any of your credit cards will allow you to transfer points into miles or hotel points. Check all of your options, as some transfer ratios are more favorable than others. For example, with the American Express Platinum Card, you can transfer points to Hilton at a 1-2 ratio. In some international destinations, you can use those points to book super high-end rooms for much fewer points than in the US.

When it's time to check in for your flight, touch base with an airline representative to see if they're offering any special deals or discounts on unsold seat upgrades. You can, at times, score stellar deals this way. "Some airlines offer discounted upgrades at check-in, either at the airport or via a web or mobile platform," Honig said. "Your airline may also offer upgrade bidding. Just check your flight confirmation email for details there."

When all else fails, never underestimate the power of kindness. "The three most stressful times an airline gate agent has to deal with are canceled flights (whether it is mechanical or weather-related), overbooked flights, and upset travelers that have problems with flight itineraries," Spagnola said. "The gate agents appreciate nothing more than when passengers are respectful and are flexible on what the gate agent is trying to do to help them. Many times, I've seen gate agents upgrade passengers into business or first class because they were shown respect and compassion toward the situation."