If you look at the footage from the luxury planes of Qatar, Cathay Pacific or AirFrance you know that the desire to fly first class is more than justified.

Spacious, extremely comfortable seats await, which become beds on long flights. The on-board staff serve meals of gourmet quality; fine wines from the wine list round off the culinary flight experience. And the latest entertainment systems or luxurious care products? They are standard here.

Only First Class is this spacious. © Singapore Airlines

First Class: 11 tips for upgrading

Of course, it should be clear that buying a first class boarding ticket is the easiest, safest, and fastest way to get seated. But other options, such as frequent flyer bonuses or airline credit cards, also open up the opportunity of an upgrade. With these eleven tips, you may soon be headed for first class.

1. frequent flyer

Collect air miles

The rule is: the further the route and the higher the class, the more miles you earn. It is usually worth redeeming the accumulated miles for upgrades. Mileage brokers are a no-go: Buying and selling airline miles via various online portals is illegal. The consequences range from exclusion from the frequent flyer program to criminal prosecution.

2. last minute

Last minute upgrade purchase

That's right: last-minute purchases can help get you into first class quickly and more affordably. Simply ask the flight attendants for discounted upgrades right before boarding at the gate.

3. loyalty points

fly with one airline and within one alliance

It is advisable to always fly with the same airline and within an airline alliance, such as OneWorld, SkyTeam or the largest of them, the Star Alliance. This is because frequent flyers are rewarded even more comprehensively for their loyalty: if they have collected enough air miles, their status and additional benefits increase.

Top members benefit from access to lounges, faster security checks and upgrades to a higher class, among other things. For the latter, there are official priority lists - you are upgraded depending on your status within the airline and the alliance, and in which class you booked which ticket. Loyalty points are therefore essential to receive upgrades.

4. store for miles

Store to increase air miles

Via purchases in the shopping portals of the airlines and alliances - such as the Lufthansa Worldshop or the Miles&More Shop - you can increase your existing flight miles to exchange them later for an upgrade.

5. wait voluntarily 

Be flexible in case of overbooking

Scheduled flight overbooked? If time permits, it may be wise to volunteer to take the next flight - in many cases you will receive compensation in the form of vouchers, upgrades and stays in comfortable lounges. By the way, in such a situation, of course in a respectful, calm manner, you are welcome to express your wishes and negotiate a little.

6. credit card

use the airline or alliance credit cards

Airline alliances offer their own credit cards that, if actively used, can earn points that can eventually be used for a seat upgrade. Providers include Delta SkyMiles or United Airlines, or non-airlines such as Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. .

7. solo travels

Book or travel alone

The likelihood of getting an upgrade is higher the fewer people in your travel party. This is because there is often just one seat available in the exclusive first class. So if you're traveling solo, you have the best chance of getting an upgrade. Alternatively, you can book each fellow traveler individually so as not to appear as a couple or group. 

8. first class material

Nice and neat

True to the motto "Dress for the seat you want," you are more likely to be upgraded to first class if you are friendly and courteous and your appearance is neat. This does not mean that you have to appear in a business outfit; nevertheless, it should be clear that an old pair of sweatpants and a scruffy hoodie do not make such a good impression in first class.

9. best flight friends

Use elite status of travel partners

Those who are not (yet) an elite member of an airline alliance benefit from fellow travelers who are. Because there is often the possibility that upgrades can be shared with people from the same reservation.

10. the right time

Flying on a specific schedule

If you book your flight on days when there are few business travelers and many families, you may be lucky enough to be upgraded. However, you should assume that in most cases you will remain in economy for the entire transfer - it's just a gamble.

11. upgrade, please!

use the overbooked economy

Good news on point 5: You don't always have to miss your flight to enjoy an upgrade. It's often enough to be a little more attentive than usual the day before.

The first thing to do is to observe the seat map. If you notice during online check-in the day before that Economy is almost full, but Business and First Class are still quite empty, that's a good sign. On the day of departure, one should be at the counter earlier, and ask the staff about possible overbooking in Economy. If this is the case, ask to be put on the waiting list for an upgrade.

If you'd like to upgrade to a higher class and are a frequent flyer, in many cases you can simply ask for the update - sometimes you get lucky. © Qantas

No-Go Weekend: Business and First Class are usually full on Saturdays and Sundays, as business travelers fly back to the office on Mondays; therefore, you should schedule your trip during the week, on Wednesdays if possible.