tips for free business class upgrade..

[Bhiku Mhatre]

Does anyone have tips for free business class upgrade? My boss is not generous enough to sponsor me a business class and economy class offers very limited space for a 11 hours of transatlantic journey.

[Mani Ram]

Check-in as the first person and just hope for the economy class to get overbooked and seats are vacant in the business class!

[Marc Peabody]

Originally posted by Mani Ram:
Check-in as the first person and just hope for the economy class to get overbooked and seats are vacant in the business class!

I rode first class from New York to Switzerland this way.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Many years ago a buddy and I flew across the US in first class by showing up at the last possible instant, as they were closing the doors; the only seats left were in first class!

[Mani Ram]

Once I traveled London - San Francisco. At the check-in time, I was told that my ticket was upgraded to Business class. But when I just entered the flight, they checked my ticket and said mine has been upgraded to First class

And even after all the passengers got on board, the flight didn't take off for another 4 hours because of unfriendly weather conditions. They started serving drinks in first class even before the flight departed and in that 4 hours I managed to finish 3 bottles of Champagne. No need to ask, they keep refilling the moment you finish your glass. Too tempting

[Ashok Mash]

Originally posted by Ernest Friedman-Hill:
..showing up at the last possible instant, as they were closing the doors;

This worked for me once! I was the last person to check-in (I had to drive back home to pick up something) and the economy was over booked! It was only 4 hour journey, but champagne tastes better when its free!

[Arvind Mahendra]

The best way is to be friends with the travel Agent. It also helps alot when the travel agent is a close relative.

If you really really want to sit in business class you can always go there and yell "CHOIRE".