If you fly regularly within your own country, choose a specific airline and join their frequent flyer program.  Then, when you are ready to book your less frequent international trips, book way in advance and use your miles to upgrade.

Why way in advance?  Because the airlines only allocate about 3 to 5 seats in business class for upgrades.  Should you have to wait-list for business class on one of your sectors, the higher the tier or status of your membership, the better your chance of jumping the queue ahead of  those on a lower tier membership, who may have wait-listed before you.  This has been proven over and over again in the industry!

Obviously, by doing the above, it will restrict you to that specific airline’s prices.  You may need to have a generous boss or an understanding financial controller for this to be of benefit as it will cost more than if you take the cheapest airline for each flight.  Of course if it is your company then you will have little problem in implementing this!

It is noteworthy to mention here, that certain airlines allow companies to accrue mileage in their company name and thus the person that controls the travel budget will get to decide who uses the miles and for what, be it upgrades or ‘free’ (*) economy tickets.  Even low cost carriers offer small to medium businesses corporate rates and more flexible fares on those rates.  Flexibility in terms of changing and cancellation fees.

(*)  As usual with the use of the word free, it is not entirely free because the taxes must still be paid even on tickets bought with air miles.  You cannot pay taxes with airmiles.  There may even be a small additional fee to pay when doing an upgrade to business class: certain ticket taxes are higher for business class than for economy tickets.  In addition, some airlines charge what they term “expediting fees” for issuing loyalty programme tickets.

Loyalty programme

Airlines may consider check-in upgrades for their frequent flyer members.  So, if you are on their loyalty programme, and particularly if you are not on the first tier, that would be in your favour.

Note: Loyalty to a particular airline has pros and cons, as with anything, so before you decide to fly with one airline frequently, to get a slight chance of business class upgrades, you might want to check on their average prices.  It could be costing you too much for a slight chance at an upgrade.

I have heard of at least one case where someone joined the loyalty programme at the airport, prior to departure, then parlayed that into a business class upgrade.  They had no intention of actually being part of the loyalty system, or necessarily even using that airline again.  But because he was now seen to be a priority customer, he got the upgrade.

Arrive at the last minute

Here is one tip with an obvious disadvantage: arrive late at the last minute for check-in.  You could get upgraded if the flight is over-booked.  Why?  Because the odds are if its over booked, and you’re dashing to make the counter before it closes, that your seat has been given away.  Of course, the risk is that business class may also be full.  You may have to travel on a later flight.  However, if you are ‘bumped’, it is standard practice for passengers to be given a free flight voucher as compensation.  Of course, for that to happen, you have to arrive before check-in is actually closed.  If you arrive after check-in has closed, you have missed the flight and get no compensation.

Ask!

Lastly, we can always ask!  At check-in, you can ask what the possibility is for an upgrade, and depending on the airline rules and how good a day the check in staff are having, you may just score it.  Some people do have the most amazing luck in this regard.  You may need to practice being charming.  (Like everybody else, check-in staff can exercise their authority for good or for evil.  If you fight with them, they have interesting ways of making sure that you lose.)

Good luck