Should Economy Passengers Get Upgraded To Empty Business Class Seats?

It's always envious to walk past an empty business class cabin to a crowded economy cabin, hoping that airlines take the easy step of upgrading some passengers for free. So why don't carriers always do this? And is there a way to score an upgrade?

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[ecclestonsangel]

Yes, back in the early 90s, I got bumped from a flight. My BFF and I were on the next flight and settling into economy, when an F/A came back, took our carryons and asked us to follow him. Next thing we knew, we had passed through the curtain and were being seated in first class. Back then, the seats were still huge and posh. We got food on china, and beverages in a glass. It was amazing!

[agni]

I was only upgraded once to business class because the flight was overbooked, so they made us wait and someone in business class didn’t show. So I went from extremely angry (it was the last flight of the day I would’ve had to stay over night), to extremely happy!

[paulyiustravelogue]

My first ever business class experience was actually an upgrade on Singapore Airlines way back in the early 2000’s. I was just flying from Singapore to Hong Kong after a brief holiday, and was offered the upgrade at check-in. Apparently the flight I was originally scheduled on was over sold, and they asked if I am willing to take a later flight in business class + voucher. The funny thing was, that “later” flight departed merely just over an hour later than my original flight. So free food, a free upgrade for just an hour of my time on a SIA flight? What a deal. 😂

[magical_catgirl]

I've gotten dozens of upgrades over the years. Many of them have been paid for with frequent flyer points, others have been operational. When economy is oversold (and they've all checked in), the airline would rather upgrade frequent flyers into empty seats in higher classes instead of deny boarding to the oversold portion of economy passengers, and then have to pay for hotels, find seats on other flights, etc.


One trip, I had booked CBR-SYD-NRT. When I checked in, I got an opup into business for the SYD-NRT leg.
While waiting in the lounge for the flight to Sydney, the delays started coming through. Weather issues in Sydney. My domestic flight was being pushed back and I pointed out to the airline staff that the delays would threaten my international connection. They started working to reroute me, which meant I lost my operational upgrade.
They decided to send me to Melbourne, then onto an international flight from there.
The first option they gave was Jetstar from Darwin to Narita via Manila. er... no. Not after I'd paid for a premium economy seat on an overnight flight. I wasn't about to go from a 747 to an A320 and be woken up in the middle of the night.
Qantas then got me onto Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.
I spent the flight to Melbourne sad that I'd lost the upgrade, but at least I had the seat class I'd paid for.
Then once I got to the Cathay lounge in Melbourne, they upgraded me again.

I did get an "upgrade" on one trip because the agent booking the ticket misunderstood one of the fare rules and booked me by mistake into First class, instead of Business, on a Cathay HKG-JFK flight.
At the time, American Airlines didn't have "business class" on their 2 class domestic flights and business class Round the World tickets booked into First on US domestic 2 class flights.
I spent the entire time up to departure expecting to be "downgraded" back into business class. In the end, I spent the longest flight on the trip in first class because the ticketing agent made a mistake.

[declanbrady]

My wife and I got a free upgrade on Emirates flying from Bangkok to Sydney.
We were both dressed in our best asda and peacocks shorts and T shirts and had free upgrade written all over us. The cabin crew were amazing and told us to make the most of it and enjoy ourselves. We were the only people who got free upgrade on the flight. There was a German guy in first class who no doubt paid a kidney for the flight and he was absolutely fuming.
We said to the cabin crew that it looks like we've upset someone. The cabin crew said to just ignore him and they made sure that we were looked after and given priority for the duration of the flight.
Thank you Emirates. You have two customers for life!

[stradivarioushardhiantz]

03:12 "Sorry for the disappointing

[callum.mcdowell]

Never been upgraded, but I've paid for business. If you pay for business, you get business. If you don't pay for business, you don't get business. Simple... Unlesss you've got a high status within the airline's frequent flyer programs, then an upgrade would be good.

[pushslice]

I always flew int’l business class when traveling for work, but for personal int’l trips, bought economy or PE. Typically had to pay for an upgrade, either with cash or miles. But there are exceptions; most recently with flying CX to Asia with a PE ticket, and w/ virtually no status. I received a free op-up leg in both directions!

That was really great. I guess economy and PE were both very full and someone was willing to pay full-fare for a last-minute ticket… and since I was a solo traveler, I was an easy choice to bump forward to Business Class …

[ood]

I have been upgraded a couple of times by BA from premium economy to club world / business class. Perhaps because I have been Silver member for a number of years, fly many times a year and sometimes fly paid Club world or club Europe too.

[bennyattar]

The airline I usually fly with auctions upgrades before the flight. Since you can only upgrade one step - economy to premium or premium to business - a premium class passenger has a good chance of an upgrade for a bargain price. Only to discover that inflight service is the same for premium and business, and ground service doesn't allow you to jump the nearly 2 hour queue at Heathrow security.

[driver]

I’ve only been upgraded once. From economy to Premium economy, smallest upgrade possible, but still a welcome one with better recline on a night flight. Thing was that it was unannounced. Nobody told us about it. We just got assigned seats in the Premium economy cabin without asking for it ocr being informed of it.

[brianbeach]

Of course, depending on the airline they most likely will be willing to upgrade their own people traveling with their benefits, after all other options at gaining revenue have been exhausted of course. This is seen as a benefit for the airline to attract talent in a way that doesn’t cost the airline much extra to provide.

[georgezaharoff]

Back in the day airlines would give upgrades to their top flyers and being waitlisted before the flight worked well. This changed when they offered upgrades to all their elite flyers and "buy ups" at check-in. Now if you want an upgrade, better to just find a good biz class fare.

[robertbos]

In my intense flying days, between 1983 and 2013, I would always fly business class for work .. it took me until 1992 for a first "free" upgrade to First on a Lufthansa flight from Harare to Frankfurt. After that If have also had upgrades from business to first on Swiss, Air France and British Airways. Obviously I was privileged because of my status (Senator with LH/LX; lifetime platinum with KL/AF) but I think the main reason for any of these upgrades was that business class or economy class (or both) were overbooked. Under those circumstances, status helps. Between 2000 and 2009 I travelled a lot to Bangkok, and standard on the Thai flight Zurich-Bangkok vv I would pay for a "stand-by upgrade" to First which cost CHF500 one way. Other than that my upgrades for holiday/private trips have been paid for by miles, although I found it more lucrative and secure to just purchase business class tickets with miles than aim for an upgrade from economy which is not always successful. The partner ticket LH/LX Senators can purchase is a great deal - when you are flying with a partner you get the second ticket for half the miles.

[shinythemoon]

When me and my mum (early 20s at that time) were travelling long haul alone for the first time and my mum couldn’t speak English, we got moved to business class where there was a flight attendant who could speak our language. I don’t remember much (i was very young) but i do remember the flight attendant being really nice and entertaining me for a while.

[keisuke]

I upgraded myself for 500$ to business class on Singapore Airlines a350 with regional configuration from DAC to SIN. I am a big fan of SQ and my fav aircraft of all time is the a350. I didn’t even take videos and I just seized my moment. I even enjoyed napping on the flat bed at 30, 000ft. So yeah, I was over the moon being one of the most memorable day of my life as an avgeek

[dhruvdeepak]

never got upgraded and the very reason I'm not loyal to any airlines! Cheap ticket is what I aim for. If in future I get upgraded then I'll definitely be loyal to that airlines. You can't clap with one hand 🙏

[noroy]

I travel every week for work, currently have elite status with Delta and American getting upgraded all the time.

[mickeymcgrenaghan]

Aer Lingus lets you bid how much you would spend to upgrade to business. Highest bids get to "turn left" on boarding :) (you have the best voice for videos)

[NYBrandywineTree]

Had economy ticket to West Palm Beach from JFK. Delta flight in the 90s. Was late and last person to board. They told me to find a seat in coach. I walked to the back of the plane and there were no available seats. They put me in first class.