How to fly first class for free

You know the look-that one of haughty derision shot your way as you board a plane and are forced to do a walk of shame past the first class passengers as they suck down champagne and warm nuts while you’re left to vie for the last overhead space and a free armrest in coach.

You envy them, but you’d never pay the outrageous price to sit in a slightly bigger seat. However, what you may not know is that many of those people in first class snagged their seats for less money than you paid for your ticket in steerage. In fact, there are many ways—some obvious, several not—to fly first class without paying for it, and here are a few of the best:

1) Elite status: The best way to get all the free first-class flights your little heart desires is to earn elite status on your airline of choice. U.S. airlines are extremely generous (at least in comparison to foreign carriers) when it comes to free upgrades to first class for their most valued customers, the elite fliers. Continental/United, Delta, Alaska and U.S. Airways all offer complimentary domestic, space-available upgrades to all levels of elite fliers. American Airlines offers unlimited domestic upgrades to their top-tier fliers. Once you hit 25,000 elite miles earned within a calendar year through flights, you start at the lowest level of elite status and work your way up at 50,000/75,000/100,000/125,000 levels depending on the airline. The higher the level of your elite status, the more likely you are to get an upgrade. This means you can buy a dirt cheap coach ticket and end up with a first class seat. As a Delta Diamond, this happens to me more often than not and I even get upgraded 6 days before most of my flights!

If you’re thinking “I don’t fly enough to get elite status,” you’re missing the boat. Almost every airline has a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn elite qualifying miles. In my opinion, Delta makes it the easiest—you can get Silver elite status until 2013 simply by transferring 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to your Delta account. No flying necessary! You can find out more about the promotion here. US airways lets you buy status outright.

And fear not. Even if you’re upgraded, airlines treat you just like a paid first class passenger. In fact, flight attendants usually have no idea who is paid and who is upgraded. So don’t think airline status is exclusive – anyone can get it if you are savvy enough!

2) Using Frequent Flier Miles or Credit Card Points: Most airlines allow you to use miles to upgrade to first class. Within the past couple years it has gotten more expensive, however. Many airlines require you to purchase a more expensive fare class (for instance regular economy instead of discounted economy) and charge co-pays plus upgrade fees and taxes, but it can still save you a ton of money versus buying a first class fare outright.

3) Buy a Y-Up fare: This one is a little more technical, but still easy to accomplish. Y-Up fares are deeply discounted first class fares available within the U.S. and Canada that are booked in the system as coach fares but automatically upgrade to first class. These allow corporate travelers who are forbidden to buy first class tickets the ability to buy “coach” and then they automatically get seated in first. These fares are hard to search for online, so usually calling the airline is best. Most reservation agents should know the term and be able to help you. One caveat, these are not the same price as your discounted coach fares, but rather they are usually more in the price range of a full coach fare-though that’s still a lot less than a first class ticket in most cases.

4) Just Ask: One of my favorite mottos when it comes to miles and points is, “it never hurts to ask.” You’d be surprised at how empowered check-in agents and gate agents are when it comes to re-assigning passengers. I recommend being extremely friendly and appreciative. Frontline employees deal with lunatics and generally ungrateful people all day, so if you can quickly and nicely ask them about getting an upgrade, you might be surprised at what could happen. While it’s a long shot, the only thing you have to lose is a little bit of dignity. This method works well for honeymooners or good looking people who know how to flirt. That said, if they say no, respect it and try again next time!

5) Taking the Bump: Most airlines oversell flights so they can maximize their profit. They know people will always miss their flights for a variety of reasons, so they oversell to accommodate how many people they think will miss their flight and fill every seat by the time the plane pushes back from the gate. However, things don’t always go as planned, and often there more passengers than there are seats. In this case the airlines usually ask for volunteers to take a later flight. The thing you should know is that you have bargaining power when you are in this situation, especially if they don’t have enough volunteers. Not only can you get a voucher for a future flight (and you can negotiate the value of that voucher up), but you can also receive confirmed first class seats on your next flight. Agents are often stressed out trying to get the plane out on time, so if you are savvy and make their lives easier, they will often give you first class, but only if you ask.

6) Broken Seat: I’ve been on several packed flights where passengers had broken coach seats and were reassigned to business or first since they were the only seats left. This is luck of the draw, though. Don’t break your seat!

7) Buy An Upgrade: An empty seat in first class is lost revenue to an airline. Many will sell deeply discounted upgrades up until departure. Call the airline after you book your flight to check the cost and inquire when you check in at the airport – it may be a lot less expensive than you expected.

8) Work For an Airline or Befriend Someone Who Does: Airline employees are generally underpaid and overworked. One of their key perks is free travel for family and friends. The specifics are different for each airline, and buddy passes can be a blessing and a curse (if flights are oversold, buddy pass riders are usually last on the priority list for a seat), however most airlines will give business or first class seats to these passengers if they are available.

There is so much written online about air miles and credit card points that allows passengers to fly at the pointy end of the plane for just “pennies.” However, it is not just the nominal tax fee to pay that many articles would have the reader believe. How many times have you read an article stating someone flew in a luxury first class suite for “just $10 plus 100,000 points.”

First Class Suite on an Emirates 777-300.

So what exactly are those 100,000 points and how do you earn them? Well, that is the deceptive part of the messaging that appears in numerous frequent flyer posts. Many of these blogs and articles are sponsored and supported by the credit card companies themselves that make substantial amounts of money by getting readers to sign up for a credit card through referral fees. Granted, the introductory bonuses are fantastic and in the U.S., can be as much as 60,000 points (which is enough to fly long haul in business class on many airlines). However, what happens after the credit card companies have wrapped you in?

Frankly speaking, users are unlikely to turn back after signing up for one of these credit cards, as the rewards are compelling. Nevertheless, when you consider that for every $1, €1 or £1 that a user spends they get one point (as a general rule), it could take you several years to actually earn the miles necessary to take that dream luxury flight, after the introduction bonus.

Understandably, that is a fantastic perk to save up for, especially considering those seats cost thousands of dollars, but it is also not realistic to achieve on a regular basis. I do save up points with this method, however, what I do far more regularly to fly in the “nice seats” is look for incredibly cheap regular fares.

The benefit of this as a fully paying passenger are that you also build up airline loyalty (if that interests you).

So, how exactly do I find these fares, and what should you be looking for?

Air Canada Aeroplan: The Ultimate Guide

7 Great Ways To Use 60,000 United Miles

The business and first class bar and lounge on the top deck of an Emirates A380.

Firstly, you need to be incredibly flexible. Both on date, destination and even occasionally, the airport that you are flying from. For example, if I wanted to fly from London to Bangkok and searched for a return fare in business class lie flat seats, I would likely be looking to pay a staggering $5,000 normally. This is the point where you have to play around with your search engine and mix it up, assuming that you can spare the extra travel time. You may not actually start in London, but instead, from a nearby city that has a promotional deal. I do publish these fares when I find them on Twitter, as do some other accounts, however there is not really a ‘trick’ to it. Someone, somewhere, is playing around with routes and dates to find what works, and that would either have to be yourself, or someone that finds them and publishes them for you. However, the issue with that is usually the first person to buy the cheap fare, resets the pricing higher. Essentially, when it’s gone it’s gone.

My general rule is that any flight under five hours I will always fly in economy. The “upgraded” seats for short and medium haul are simply not worth the extra cost for me. Who wants to pay four times the price for the same seat with a tray table blocking the middle seat in European business class? Certainly not me. However, when it comes to the longer flight segments, if I can fly in a lie flat seat, that saves me getting jet lag and allows me to arrive refreshed, I will try to book a seat for marginally more than economy—assuming the cost is right.

First class suite apartments on the Etihad A380.

So back to the London to Bangkok example. I recently found a fare on Qatar Airways from either Oslo or Stockholm to Singapore for “just” $1,760 return, in their amazing q-suites. Fully closing doors that adds in-seat privacy, and a fantastic product that is well worth the price. Economy flights for that route direct would retail at around $1,500. The question you have to ask yourself here, is whether it is worth your time and effort “positioning yourself” at the starting point in Scandinavia to begin the journey. Considering this is only a short and inexpensive hop (at around $40-70) from London, this would certainly be worth it for me. Close to 30 hours flying time in your own suite with a bed means that I am happy to take this extra flight.

This type of flexibility is how I generally find cheaper First and Business class flights, although I understand the need for people to want to reduce their time on a plane and simply fly direct. Flying almost anywhere direct from major airport hubs though is rarely going to yield competitive fares.

Very often, airlines run certain incredibly cheap fares from different airports. There are “usual suspects” in this. Colombo, Sri Lanka and Kathmandu, Nepal are very often seen as very competitively priced places to fly to and from.

Earlier this year, I wanted to fly from Dubai to Singapore. A return ticket in the Emirates suites was an eye-watering $12,000 return! It baffles me who is actually paying those prices. Instead, I managed to book return in first class for $1,600 including an extra 9 hours in the air (totaling 27 hours flight time—working out at just $60 per hour in the air!). I did this by instead starting my journey from Colombo. This meant that I had to “position” myself in Colombo to start, which cost me $150 to fly from Dubai to Colombo on, ironically, the very same aircraft that I would fly back in first Class.

First class shower on an Emirates A380

To some, this may seem a little mindless, but to others, particularly to fly in absolute comfort for the rest of your journey and have perks such chauffeur pick ups from the airport with some airlines, this seems like a small price (and amount of time) to pay.

There are lots of examples of these great fares out there, and they will rarely get you between your exact starting points, which is largely why the fares are so competitively priced. Another recent example that I saw was flying from London to Auckland in lie flat on China Southern for $2,000 return. That’s a solid 45 hours of flight time and my rationale would be that if I, in fact, wanted to fly from London to Australia, then I would quite happily do the majority of the flying in business class, and take a short and cheap hop over from New Zealand to Sydney at the end of my journey that I would feel refreshed from.

Essentially, change your city around, be flexible on dates, and those insanely expensive fares will occasionally appear to be in the realms of affordability.

Travel + Leisure is a magazine that I enjoy. But its latest tip on how to score a “free” first class upgrade is nothing short of absurd.

Another Misleading How To Get A Free First Class Upgrade Article

The story begins with the tritest of cliches:

Sometimes getting an upgrade isn’t about the right timing or knowing the right people. Sometimes, it’s all about having the right outfit.

Maybe in the 1990s, but not in 2020, especially in the pandemic era. The only article of clothing people care about now is whether you are wearing a face covering. But even before the pandemic, this sort of advice is simply foolishness.

An unnamed flight attendant offered wardrobe tips:

“No jeans or trainers — so I always go for tight black trousers and a blazer or a dress. For men, chinos or trousers and a shirt are worn.”

Trainers? Must be a British flight attendant. The same flight attendant also mentions you should dress like you travel often:

“Smart but understated. You should look like you travel often…it helps; someone who is potentially due to get an upgrade can be knocked back if they aren’t dressed suitably.”

A decade ago I would have said this is poor advice, but it doesn’t hurt to dress nicely because all else equal, it could help if you were in the right place at the right time.

In 2020, however, I do not see any relevance for this advice. Call it a poor reflection on society, but people are increasingly dressing down when they fly. And I don’t even mean that in a pejorative sense, because wearing leggings or workout gear or dungarees and a t-shirt no longer even invites a second look.

How To Score A “Free” Upgrade

Nothing in life is free. If you want a “free” upgrade, you need to fly one airline often, earn elite status, and hope for a space-available upgrade. Airlines do not hand out upgrades like Halloween candy to passengers in the best costume. That’s simply not how it works.

Most airlines (and all U.S. airlines) have specific protocols in place for processing upgrades on a standard basis and when flights are oversold. The cost of premium seats has come down greatly over the years and an upgrade to first class may be much cheaper than you think. Airlines have also made it easier than ever before to upgrade online, using a mobile app, or during check-in.

For those extremely rare “operational” first class upgrades, the most important factor will be your seat assignment and whether a gate agent needs it for someone else, potentially a separated family or a group traveling together. It is in those rare instances that you may receive an upgrade and it won’t be for your wardrobe choice.

But I will leave you with this advice. One of the few points in my life in which I did receive a free upgrade was because I asked to pay for one. I was traveling on Emirates from Melbourne to Auckland and and inquired during check-in about the cost to upgrade to business class. Rather than charge me (which most airlines will do), the agent simply moved me up to business class, later remarking the flight was oversold in the back.

That was in 2009. I’ve tried that “trick” many times over the years and it has never worked again.

CONCLUSION

First class upgrades are not a byproduct of dressing nicely. Rather, they are the product of frequent flying and not handed out for free except in the rarest of circumstances. And in those rare circumstances, upgrades will be based upon frequent flyer status first, then the specific seating needs of the airline. Wearing nice clothes is nice…but not helpful in your quest for a first class upgrade.

Everybody wants to fly at the front of the plane. The bigger, more comfortable seats, a constant supply of snacks and drinks, and boarding and deplaning first are some of the perks that come with first class or business class seating. International and U.S. transcontinental flights often offer both classes. Shorter-duration flights may only offer one, generally business class.

But it’s no easy task to land those premium seats without paying full fare unless you fly frequently. Because airlines now fly at near capacity, those seats are a hot commodity. If you don’t fly a lot for business, one of the best ways to fly first class is to use your credit card. Travel-themed credit cards offer rewards you can redeem as loyalty points with major airlines.

Capital One Venture Rewards

Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. You can redeem your points for flights that could include first-class seats. There is a $95 annual fee, and the 13.99%, 18.74% or 21.24% interest rate (based on creditworthiness) falls within the range of most travel cards.

Like other cards in the category, the annual fee is waived the first year. Add to that a 0% introductory rate and no foreign transaction fee and you can see why it’s such a popular card among travelers. (For more, see Comparing The Capital One Miles Credit Cards.)

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Earn two points for every $1 spent on travel and dining at restaurants. For all other purchases, you earn one point. Chase offers a 1:1 redemption meaning 1,000 Chase reward points equals 1,000 miles with participating airlines. Other perks include trip cancellation insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and – if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours – Chase covers unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket.

The APR comes in at 15.99% and Chase waives the $95 annual fee for the first year. If you spend more than $4,000 in the first 3 months of having the card, you receive 60,000 bonus points. There is no foreign transaction fee. For more, see Chase Sapphire Preferred Vs. AmEx Platinum.

Discover it Miles

Since 1986, the Discover card has been a favorite among consumers for its no nonsense rewards and its use of the most current technology. Recently, the company announced that customers can now instantly turn the card on or off from their app if the card is lost or stolen. If the card is found, simply go to the app and turn it back on.

Like most companies, Discover has a travel card. The it Miles card offers 1.5 miles for every dollar you spend and for your first year, Discover gives you double miles. There are no blackout dates and Discover will credit you up to $30 per year for inflight Wi-Fi.

The APR is 0% for the first year and 10.99% to 22.99% after that. And there is no annual fee. To read more, see Review: Discover it Miles Card.

BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card

Earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spend with the card. Points can be redeemed for travel rewards of any type, including first-class seating on airlines. The APR is 14.99% to 22.99%, depending on your credit, but has a 0% APR for the first year. The card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

Like most cards of its type, if you spend at least $500 in the first 90 days, Bank of America will give you 10,000 bonus points – equal to about $100 in rewards.

The Bottom Line

Even with plenty of miles, getting a spot at the front of the plane is much harder than it once was. Business travelers who fly multiple times per week often get the seats first, but plenty of other travelers use their rewards to fly in the cushy seats from time to time. Vacation travelers may be more flexible, which can give them more options to try.

The travel cards described above help with flights from virtually any airline. If you mostly fly a particular carrier, having its credit card can also help you land first-class seats for that airline, of course. For more, see Do Your Card’s Travel Benefits Make The Grade?

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Flying first class is the ultimate indulgence in travel, but first-class tickets are usually exorbitantly expensive. When you board a flight, airlines love tempting you with empty first-class seats as you walk past to squeeze into your middle seat in coach. But there are ways to get into the hallowed grounds of first-class seating without paying first-class prices.

If you’re the type of person who always finds a way to talk your way into a room upgrade in a hotel, use some of those similar skills to score better seats on your next flight. Know how the system works and make the most of any opportunity you get to justifiably request an upgrade.

There’s no guaranteed method of getting a free first-class upgrade, but here are some tricks you can use to boost your chances next time you fly.

1. Take Advantage of a Full Flight

As headlines about recent unsavory events have clearly demonstrated, airlines often overbook flights in order to maximize the number of seats filled when passengers miss their flights. If coach seats on a flight are overbooked, the airline will be much more likely to upgrade passengers to empty first-class seats so that there is room to accommodate everybody with a coach ticket.

2. Offer Up Your Seat

If your flight is overbooked and you’re not in a rush to get to your destination, offer to give up your seat in exchange for a first-class ticket on the next flight. You’ll save the airline a headache, and they may treat you to a more luxurious trip for your troubles. Usually, you’ll just be offered a voucher for a flight in the future, but it’s worthwhile to try your luck at a first-class seat.

3. Know When to Complain

You settle into your seat in coach and try to turn on your TV. It doesn’t work. In this situation, a rookie traveler might despair about their bad luck, but a pro uses the situation to their advantage. If there is something wrong with your seat, maybe a broken tray table or a busted window shade, try asking to be moved. Play the game a little bit and flex your acting chops when you complain about how excited you were to watch Minions. If all other coach seats are full, you may be given a seat in first class.

4. Dress the Part

Dress for the airplane seat you want, not the one you have. Sure, there’s no good reason first-class passengers and coach passengers should dress any differently, but it couldn’t hurt to dress nicely when requesting an upgrade. If you usually dress for flights the same way you dress when you’re watching Netflix in bed, try sprucing up your look. And as always, be courteous and polite.

With more and more of the seat-filling process becoming automated, it’s becoming increasingly rare to speak person to person with someone at the airline who can grant you a seat upgrade. Even if you’re unable to get an upgrade, remember: if Kanye West and Kim Kardashian can fly coach, so can we!

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Here’s how to get a free checked bag on American Airlines:

• 1 checked bag is free for AAdvantage Gold members, oneworld Ruby members and those with certain American Airlines credit cards.
• 2 checked bags are free for AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro and oneworld Sapphire members.
• 3 checked bags are free for AAdvantage Executive Platinum and oneworld Emerald members.

You can also get free checked bags by flying premium fare classes, flying to certain destinations and if you’re active military personnel.

How do I get a free checked bag on American Airlines?

Free checked baggage on American Airlines can save you $60 to $440 per person on a round-trip flight. Four American Airlines credit cards offer one free checked bag on domestic flights. You can also get free bags with elite status in AAdvantage or oneworld, or by flying Business, Premium Economy or First class. Each bag can weigh up to 50 pounds and have overall dimensions of 62 inches.

Here are more details about how your bags can fly free on American Airlines itineraries:

• Get an American Airlines credit card.
  Four American Airlines cards let you check your first bag free on domestic flights operated by the carrier.
• Get a card with travel credits.
  A general travel card might come with credits you can use to offset baggage fees, in-flight purchases, airport lounge fees and more.
• Earn American Airlines elite status.
  American Airlines’s loyalty program, AAdvantage, has four elite tiers. Each offers one to three complimentary checked bags on American-operated flights.

Free checked bags for American Airlines elites

• Earn elite status in oneworld.
  American Airlines is part of oneworld, which is among the largest airline alliances. There are three elite tiers in this alliance.Status in oneworld gives you one to three checked bags on American Airlines flights. Meanwhile, status in SkyTeam and Star Alliance — oneworld’s major competitors — gives you just one free checked bag maximum.This method of saving on baggage fees can be helpful if you’re a frequent flyer with a oneworld carrier. You’ll become a oneworld elite by earning status in one of the alliance’s member airlines.

Free checked bags for oneworld elites

• Fly a premium fare class.
  When flying Business or Premium Economy, you can check two bags at no cost.If you fly first class on a three-cabin aircraft, you can check three bags at no cost. On a two-cabin aircraft, you’re allowed two free checked bags.
• Fly to certain destinations.
  When you fly to eligible destinations, you can check one to two bags free.

Fly to these destinations to get free checked baggage

How much does it usually cost to check a bag on American Airlines?

These rates apply to bags up to 50 pounds and 62 linear inches on domestic flights.

On First and Business Class flights, the maximum weight per bag is 70 pounds.

Baggage limits
You can check up to 10 bags on domestic, transatlantic and transpacific flights. You can check up to five bags on flights to, through or from:

• Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
• South America.
• Brazil.

How to get a free checked bag with an American Airlines credit card

Use an American Airlines credit card with a free-checked-bag perk. Be sure to open your card at least seven days prior to your flight to receive the baggage benefit. Also, add your American Airlines AAdvantage number to your reservation at least seven days before your flight.

Compare some credit cards with this perk and see the other travel benefits they offer as well.

American Airlines free checked bags

Baggage fees with American Airlines credit cards vs. United credit cards

Four of American Airlines’s credit cards have checked baggage benefits, but each lets you check only one bag. By comparison, United Airlines’ premium credit cards let you check two bags free.

Compare credit cards that offer free checked bags on American Airlines

If an airline card isn’t your style, consider a general travel card with travel credits. You’ll be reimbursed via these credits after you use the card for baggage fees.

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you’re interested in before making a decision.

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All travelers know the feeling. You’re boarding a long flight, and you have to walk past the first class cabin in order to get to your cramped, economy class seats. Everyone wants to fly in first class, but most of the time it’s way out of your budget.

But what if you could find flights with affordable first class domestic seats, or business class international cabins? Thankfully, there are a few airlines that have gone out of their way to offer larger seats up front, without the astronomical airfare.

Here are four airlines that offer the cheapest first and business class seats.

Spirit

This is an airline that everyone loves to hate due to its numerous fees and often questionable customer service, but bear with me. Technically, Spirit doesn’t offer a first class, but it does give you the option of what it calls the “Big Front Seat.” For an additional charge of $12–$175 per flight, you can select a seat that is equivalent to other airlines’ domestic first class.

These are seats that are 20 inches wide and have a 36-inch pitch (pitch is the distance from the back of one seat to the back of the next). In contrast, Spirit’s standard seat has just 17.75 inches of width, and a knee crunching 28 inches of pitch.

Just note that this charge is per flight, meaning that you’ll have to pay it twice for a round-trip, and four times if you have to change planes in each direction. However, the prices are lower ($12–$150) if you book the larger seat in advance. Finally, you should note that the Big Front Seat option offers just that and nothing more. Unlike other airlines’ first class, you’ll still have to pay for both carry on and checked bags, as well as all food and beverages on board.

La Compagnie

Going to Paris, but not looking to be squeezed into economy class during your transatlantic flight? Consider La Compagnie, an airline so small that it only flies from Newark to Paris using a total of two planes. Both of its planes have 74 business class seats, and no economy section.

To be fair, the airline’s business class seats are the 175-degree angled recliners that most other carriers have already replaced with full lie-flat seats. But these seats are still light years ahead of any economy class seats. Best of all, flights on La Compagnie start at a mere $1,300 round-trip. Seats are more expensive than a discounted flight in economy class, but they’re far less than most competitors’ business class fares.

Norwegian Air

This carrier has been rapidly expanding to a variety of international routes. While its name might suggest that it primarily transports people to Norway, most of its routes from the United States are to London, Paris, and other major European destinations. From these international gateways, you can connect to short-haul flights to secondary destinations if you want.

Norwegian offers a premium section with wider, reclining seats than you’ll find in economy class. Premium passengers get two free checked bags, a three-course dinner, and breakfast. As with La Compagnie, Norwegian’s premium product is more expensive than discounted economy, but less than the business class service offered by its competitors.

JetBlue

Like the other airlines here, JetBlue doesn’t call it’s premium product “first class.” However, its Mint seats and service are some of the most luxurious offered by any airline. Mint class, which is only offered on select Caribbean and coast-to-coast domestic routes, offers a full lie-flat seat and premium dining options. It also comes with priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage claim. And all JetBlue flights come with free, high-speed internet service. Mint flights start at $599 each way, which is a bargain for a six-hour flight in this kind of comfort.

Other tips for getting cheap first class

Even if you’re not flying one of the airlines listed above, there are ways to save on a premium class experience.

1. Use miles

I’ve analyzed dozens of airline award charts and in my experience, business and first class seats often cost three to five times as much as a nonrefundable economy class ticket. Compared to that, you can get a relative bargain by redeeming your miles for them. A domestic first class seat usually requires about twice as many miles as economy, while I’ve seen business class international tickets that require just 60–100 percent more than economy. You also have to consider the price of meals and baggage fees that you can avoid by traveling in business or first class. (See also: 5 Airline Miles Secrets Only Frequent Flyers Know)

2. Consider paying for upgrades after your purchase

After you’ve already booked your seat, many airlines will offer you a paid upgrade. Check the online forums for frequent travelers and you’ll see lots of discussions about how good these offers can be. In short, the cost of a discounted seat with a paid upgrade is often less than the original price of a business class seat. Paid upgrade offers may also be available at check-in.

3. Double check the price at the time of purchase

After years of seeing outrageous prices for first class seats, many travelers have simply given up looking. However, some of the major airlines occasionally discount their first class seats. At the same time, you might be paying a premium for economy class. As a result, it’s not uncommon to see first class selling for just a little bit above economy class. And when you factor in luggage charges and the cost of onboard food purchases, you could have a very good deal.

Delta’s First Class Experience

A premium experience that puts Delta customers’ needs first

First Class is a premium cabin offering on domestic routes (within the 50 U.S. and between the 50 U.S. and Canada).*

Delta’s First Class customers will enjoy:

Premium seats with ample legroom

New quilted seat covers and updated headrests

Dedicated overhead bin space

Wi-Fi, where available, and personalized service

Access to in-seat power on most flights

Premium menu offerings (on select flights), premium snacks, Starbucks® coffee, plus complimentary beer, wine and spirits**

Access to complimentary premium entertainment with Delta Studio™ where available***

* Select international flights may offer Business Class service in lieu of First Class, amenities may vary by flight and aircraft.
** Must be 21 and over for alcoholic beverages; please drink responsibly; beverages offered on flights over 250 miles. Meal service on flights over 900 miles. Terms and conditions apply.

***Entertainment options may vary by aircraft and route; not available on all aircraft. Entertainment offered via in-flight streaming, our seat-back screens or overhead screens. Check our listings at delta.com to make sure your aircraft or route is included. Entertainment prices may be changed at any time. In-Flight Streaming entertainment valid on all Domestic 2-Class Wi-Fi equipped aircraft. There may be service interruptions for Domestic Aircraft flying internationally. Delta One™, First Class & Delta Comfort+™ passengers can get access to complimentary premium content via In-Flight Streaming entertainment by validating their seat numbers on the Delta Connect portal. Delta is not responsible for outages of In-Flight Streaming service. For issues with streaming service, contact Gogo customer service. In-Flight Streaming entertainment is subject to Terms of Use, accessible via the Delta Connect portal available in-flight.

For full details and to view all terms and conditions, please visit

Post Purchase Upgrades

Post purchase upgrades using cash or miles can be done via delta.com. Travel Agencies maintain control of tickets when customers upgrade post-purchase.

Amenities and Accessibility

View a list of available amenities and accessibility for Delta’s Branded Products, First Class.

A non-profit group is making it easier to reach your travel goals by running educational seminars on the best ways to maximise air miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards — and their talks are all free.

The Frequent Traveller University (FTU) hosts educational talks led by flying experts, air mile aficionados, and savvy travel bloggers who each have their own tips and tricks for making travel cheaper, more comfortable, and more luxurious.

FTU has run over 30 events across the globe over the past seven years, helping over 8,000 savvy flyers collect points and achieve their own travel goals.

The talks all revolve around maximising air miles. For those unfamiliar with the scheme, many airlines reward customers with points for flying with their company. After a while, flyers can redeem points for a variety of benefits, including discounted seats, travel perks, and even a first-class upgrade.

The air miles community is constantly growing, with increasing numbers of flyers getting hooked on the buzz of redeeming increasingly luxurious perks.

Brian Kelly, also known as “The Points Guy,” is just one example. Kelly has flown all over the world for next to nothing after he began collecting his dad’s frequent flier points. Since then, he has set up a blog that helps flyers maximise their points and has turned his air miles passion into a successful business.

The events run by the Frequent Traveller University aren’t just for people obsessed with private jets and first class upgrades, though. The talks are aimed at every level of flyer — from jet-setters always on the road for business, to absolute beginners who want to find ways to save on their annual family holiday.

FTU’s talks take place over long weekends across the world, with the next free convention taking place in Chicago later this month.