You can bump up to first class this summer, perhaps much more easily than you might believe. Airlines make upgrading so easy now that as long as there are seats available, you are very likely to get a very cheap first class ticket or a free flight upgrade.

Most people do not know how to get flight upgrades cheaply or for free. While it may seem counterintuitive, buying a ticket upgrade at the day before departure can be one of the easiest ways to get flight upgrades. I bought a first class ticket for a vacation trip, taking the usual "safe" route of purchasing my tickets through a reputable agent a few weeks before travel. The fare seemed quite reasonable considering the generous room, comfort and high quality service that it purchased. I was one of the only people with a first class seat reserved. Then I watched the open seats fill up in the couple of days before departure, for prices a little as one-fifth of what I paid. I wondered how they did it!

How to get flight upgrades out of the airlines on the cheap can simply be a matter of calling at the right moment. If you already have coach reservations, you should call the airline about twenty four hours in advance of your departure. Most airlines offer flight upgrades to first class, to help fill up their unsold seats, for as little as fifty dollars on domestic flights and one hundred fifty dollars on international flights. Some airlines require a full-price ticket to be eligible for these low cost or free airline upgrades. However, most of them make a "limited time offer" for anyone to upgrade on the cheap at the check-in desk and/or departure gate.

One key to maximizing your chances for a free flight upgrade is a Y-class, also called YUPP or QUPP, ticket. This type of ticket is often called a full price coach or economy with free flight upgrade reservation. Essentially, if there are any open first class seats, those holding such tickets are eligible for free flight upgrades.

Another key to maximizing your chances is being sure to sign up for a frequent fliers membership. Your travel mileage can be used to purchase flight upgrades with no upfront cost to you. However, even without cashing in miles, simply being a registered frequent flier can make numerous opportunities for a free flight upgrade available to you. Members are usually offered discounts and upgrades from the airlines, before they are offered (or even made available) to the general public.

Now that you have a few extra weapons in your money-saving arsenal, you can bump up to first class this summer and fly in style.