Here are some tips on getting last minute airline ticket upgrades to first class.  There is nothing more frustrating and less enjoyable than an overcrowded flight with crying babies, screaming children, sobbing mothers, and mindless chatter.  Thankfully, there are a few ways that you can increase your potential for a last minute upgrade, and escape the noise and frustration of a crowded economy flight.

First, a few fair warnings.  Do not ask for an upgrade outright unless you are a frequent flyer with an upgrade certificate.  Also, the situations in which you can get an upgrade, while they can be manipulated to receive the upgrade, do not always occur.  In short, getting a last minute upgrade is usually a matter of luck.

That said, there is some preparation you can make to put yourself into a better position of getting a last minute upgrade on your flight.  First, pay attention to the seat that you are assigned when you book your flight.  If you have a seat in the middle of the plane, you are more likely to get an upgrade on an empty flight where balance becomes an issue, and someone needs to be moved toward the front or the back of the plane.

Second, pay attention to your dress.  Do not wear sweats to the airline.  Dress in business or business casual clothing.  If a flight is overcrowded and someone needs to be upgraded, you will be more likely to be that someone if you look the part.  Additionally, being kind to the gate attendant and giving him or her a big smile will go a long way toward getting you chosen when upgrades are being handed out for an overcrowded flight.  Barring other tactics, getting a last minute upgrade can be as simple as giving up your seat.  

If a flight is over sold, and your flight time or day is not vitally important to your plans, you can opt to give up your seat in exchange for a seat on a later flight, or a flight on the next day.  By giving up your seat willingly, you may receive an upgrade on that flight, or on the new flight you are booked on, as a thank you from the airline for helping them resolve the issue.

The overall best way to get an upgrade is to be a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program and have an upgrade voucher in hand.  If you don’t have a voucher but you are a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program, you will be more likely to be upgraded in the case of an oversold flight.  If you are a member of the frequent flyer program of a competing airline, you may also manage to be upgraded in an oversold flight in the hopes that you will switch to that airlines frequent flyer program in exchange.

Again, getting a last minute airline ticket upgrade on your flight is largely a matter of luck.  However, if you follow these guidelines you may just find yourself out of economy class and in business class if your flight is oversold, overcrowded, or overly empty.

These are just a few ideas on getting last minute free airline ticket upgrades.  What ideas have worked for you?