4 ms·

I have been upgraded to 1st class only once in my life. Are free upgrades more common in the US than other countries?

• Swizec 10y ago
  If you have one of those mileage credit cards and put everything including rent on the card, it can go pretty fast. Or if you travel a lot for work.
  • umanwizard 10y ago
    How are you able to pay your rent on a credit card without an additional 2-3% (at least) fee?
    • Hydraulix989 10y ago
      That math might work out if you consider the value of the miles you're getting.
• steveklabnik 10y ago
  It Depends. I will say that I get upgraded to first class on domestic flights all the time, but have only gotten two or three international upgrades. In Delta's case, at least, it depends on how many seats are free, and how you rank. The ranking is based on all kinds of stuff. So for less-flown and less-upgraded routes, it's easy to upgrade. Other routes have more people flying first class by paying and more competition for the free upgrades.
• rconti 10y ago
  No, they basically don't exist. I'm United Mileage Plus Silver and have never seen an upgrade (although now I get 'free' Economy Plus which just adds a few inches of legroom to the terrible experience). I've had friends put in for first class upgrades for me a number of times and never once seen one. A "normal" person who doesn't rack up tens of thousands of miles a year will absolutely never see an upgrade.