Beyoncé and I have a lot in common. She once famously sang, “Partner let me upgrade you,” and I am here to tell you how to get upgraded to business or first class on your next flight.
On United Airlines, MileagePlus Premier members are eligible for complimentary Premier upgrades, but only Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members receive PlusPoints that allow you to confirm upgrades sooner.
Travel alone: On flights where I have been eligible for an upgrade, I occasionally move to the top of the list if I am traveling alone. Even if other travelers on the list have higher status, if there aren’t enough seats for their entire travel party, I’ve been able to pull ahead of them and fly in comfort.
Airline miles: If you aren’t eligible for an upgrade via elite status and don’t fly often enough to store up your miles for a free flight, you can trade your miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on major airlines like American Airlines, United and Delta. Pending upgrade availability, you can usually do this during booking or after, online or in the airline’s app.
Wear a sparkly outfit: Just kidding … that only works if you actually are Beyoncé. I can’t help you with that, but this additional reading might help:
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Earn 125,000 miles
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