Airlines are offering passengers a way to upgrade tickets on quieter flights, and it could save you hundreds of pounds. It’s as simple as telling the airline how much you’re willing to pay — in other words, submitting a bid. While you’re not guaranteed to win an upgrade, the chance to nab a cheap business class flight is worth the punt.
Whether you’re in search of some winter sun or looking ahead to your summer getaway, bidding to upgrade is one way to make your trip feel extra special without splashing out. Here’s everything you need to know…. The following airlines allow passengers to bid for a business class seat — check their websites for further details:.
After you’ve bought an economy class ticket, keep your eyes peeled for an email from the airline offering you the chance to bid for an upgrade. This will often arrive within a week before departure. You can also go to the airline’s website to see if your booking is eligible for an upgrade.
Airlines will set a minimum and maximum price for a bid. Most passengers will bid close to the minimum amount, so bidding around 20-40% above this gives you a good chance of securing an upgrade. Not all airlines allow you to bid for seat upgrades, and those that do may only allow it on specific routes or have a certain time window in which to do it — less than 72 hours before departure, for example.
