Upgrade your ticket

Increase your chance of getting an upgrade by using one airline for all of your travels. This will get you lot of frequent flyer miles that will help you to purchase a ticket. Keep in mind that you'll use three times the miles of a coach ticket to get one in first class, but you'll still have no out-of-pocket expenses for airfare.

Check to see whether your frequent-flyer program offers special upgrade deals. If the flight isn't full, the agent might upgrade you when you check in. So, arrive at the airport early and ask if seats available in first class and upgrades are available.

You can also purchase a coach class ticket, and then use your frequent flyer miles to upgrade to first class. Be sure the ticket is upgradeable before you buy, though. Be friendly to the ticket agent. They are required to follow certain procedures, but a little friendliness might help and certainly couldn't hurt.

Offer to give up your seat if the flight is overbooked. In most cases, airlines will compensate you with spending cash and a free flight to use within the year. If it turns out that they don't need your seat, the airline will often give you a first class seat just for being willing to delay your trip.

If you are a lower-level frequent-flyer member, you may be able to pay for your upgrade and still spend less than what you would have paid for a first-class ticket.

If you are making a connecting flight and the service wasn't great on the first leg of the flight, politely complain to the ticket agent. A ticket agent might give you an upgrade if you have a legitimate complaint about inadequate service.

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