Here’s How I Bid on a Business Class Upgrade for Cheap

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Want to fly in business class without paying thousands of dollars? Maybe you can. Find out how one writer got a business class upgrade for less. 

While I wish I could afford to fly business class every time I took a trip, that’s not my reality. For the majority of the trips I take that require me to fly, I book an economy-class ticket. That’s because I don’t make a CEO-level salary, and I’m working to meet my personal finance goals.

But I have flown in business class a few times. Some airlines allow passengers to bid for a seat upgrade. If your upgrade offer is accepted, you can improve your travel experience on the cheap. Keep reading to discover what you need to know so you don’t miss out on this service.

I flew in style without paying full price

Over the last decade, I’ve traveled to many international destinations, and flown with quite a few international airlines. Some of these airlines allow customers to bid on seat upgrades. Here’s how it works: You’ll be asked how much you want to pay to upgrade your seat, and then the airline decides whether to accept your bid.

There’s no guarantee that the airline will accept your offer, but sometimes it works out, and you’ll get upgraded. My bids were accepted on three occasions. Here’s a look at the route, airline, and cost I paid for each business class upgrade below:

Seoul to Prague with Czech Airlines (12 hours): $325 per personPanama City to Lima with Copa Airlines (4 hours): $115 per personSeoul to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines (6.5 hours): $90 per person

I had already paid the standard economy ticket price for each flight. After my bids were accepted, my credit card was charged for the additional upgrade price. Considering the total cost paid for each flight, these upgrades were a win for me and my wallet.

How to bid on a seat upgrade

So, you already have an economy-class ticket purchased, and your flight is coming up soon. Are you dreaming of flying in a premium-class cabin? Maybe you can! If your flight has unsold business class or first-class seats, your airline may allow you to bid on a seat upgrade.

If the airline offers this service, you may receive an email asking how much you’d be willing to pay to upgrade your ticket. You might also see this advertised in your airline’s mobile app. You’ll be asked to provide the maximum amount you’ll pay for an upgrade. Make sure to only bid what you can afford to pay. The last thing you want to deal with is credit card debt.

The airline will compare bids and decide who gets an upgrade. You’ll be alerted if your offer is accepted, your credit card will be charged, and you’ll receive a new boarding pass. Most airlines have a minimum bid amount — so you likely won’t get to fly in business class on a 10-hour flight for only $100. If your offer isn’t accepted, you’ll have your original ticket as originally planned.

Unfortunately, this is a practice that most major U.S. airlines have yet to take part in. I have yet to see the option to bid on a price for an upgrade with carriers like Delta, American Airlines, or United Airlines. But maybe someday it will be more common.

Here’s a list of a few airlines that offer bid upgrades:

Air CanadaCopa AirlinesCathay PacificCzech AirlinesIcelandairLATAMLufthansaMalaysia AirlinesQantas

Keep in mind this isn’t an exhaustive list. Before your next flight, keep alert for any emails or in-app offers for seat upgrade bidding opportunities. This could make for an excellent way to improve your flight experience without draining your checking account.

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As everyday living costs rise, it can sometimes feel like your travel goals are out of reach. But there are still ways to save money on travel expenses. Unique opportunities like seat upgrade bidding can allow you to prioritize travel spending without disregarding your budget.

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