Upgrade airfare or promotional coupon / codes

If you're talking about upgrading to a first or business class seat, that will set you back about $10,000. Unless you're an elite frequent flier you can't get that kind of upgrade for free on a transatlantic flight.

You need to provide a lot more info to see if this is even possible - what is the airline, what is the fare code, is the fare code upgradeable. You could try a place like flyertalk.com. I know for sure a number of United's fare are upgradeable with a 'System wide upgrade'. These upgrades are only given to people who fly over 100,000 miles a year. I know AA also has some similar upgrades.

Even though it is illegal per the airline rules, you may be able to purchase some of these items through ebay. Try flyertalk.com for all the details and limitations.

I would be careful with the Ebay deals. The thing is those "coupoons" are tied to the Frequent Flyer account, which is not yours. So if the airline denys your use it's "too bad" and you are out of luck

Not to mention that most of them are fare class specfic. The $610 above means that you are at the "lowest" fare class.

Upgrades are generally given based on combinations of fare class and frequent flyer status. I am an elite flyer on a couple of airlines but I know that when I buy the bargin basement fares I am sititng in coach, it's just rare that gets an upgrade.

You should be able to look on the airline's website and see what class of airfare you need to buy to be allowed to upgrade. It's almost never the inexpensive, non-refundable coach fares most of us buy. A lot of people upgrade with frequent flyer miles, but you'll need quite a lot of them, there will need to be availability (they only reserve so many of the business/first seats for upgrades) and again, you'll need to have purchased a fare that allows for a miles upgrade. That info should also be on your airline's website.

And as for free upgrades on a transatlantic flight...do those exist anymore? Did they ever? Except by happy accident?

Generally you must purchase a full fare coach ticket to be able to use miles or other upgrades. "Free" upgrades on International flights are rare.

And the $10,000 number? Where did that one come from.

I can buy a Business Class Roundtrip on Delta for less then $5,000. (Sometimes as low as $3,000 to London)

Not the $610 OP quotes, but not $10,000 either!

Carol:

Re-read Michael's post. He said business OR first class. First class to London from my home airport comes in at $18,000.

A few years ago, as I waiting in line to check-in for a flight to London on Continental airlines, two sisters in front of me wanted to be upgraded for free because it was the birthday for one of them. The agent laughed and said no free upgrades, the only way they were going to be able to fly first class was if they paid $10,000. The sister then laughed and asked to speak to a supervisor, the supervisor came over and reiterated that there were no free "birthday" upgrades and it would cost $10,000...each.

But since you can get business class upgrades for only $3000, I'm sure you will write Bill a check;)

But Jacquie - "Business Elite" on Delta, from Atlanta, is the equivalent of First Class. There is not a higher class of service, as far as I know, on Delta's European flights. And this Business Class is REALLY fabulous - lie flat beds, nice meals, big pillows, blankets, access to nice lounge, etc.

We used to save our miles to upgrade from full coach to these Business Elite seats but have chosen at least a few times to purchase them outright. Since we traveled to Europe in the summer, the coach seats ran about $1,200 and the Business seats were about $2500 (on sale). There are currently, as poster above stated, Business (aka First Class) seats available from ATL to LGW for less than $3,000 all in.

As to the "accidental" upgrade - my young daughter (22) has been upgraded to Business/First twice in the past year - including a Delta flight from Frankfurt to the states. I thought it might be due to them needing a "solo" traveler in order to allow 2 people to sit together in coach? I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has knowledge of how airlines choose who to upgrade - besides the obvious High Mileage FF.

While airlines have guidelines on upgrading, much of it is left to the discretion of the gate agent/customer service rep.

High mileage FF's, IATA card holders, holders of full fare coach tickets will get priority over discount cattle class.

Next is appearance. If you walk up to the rep in shorts, T-shirt and sandals saying you'd like an upgrade, they'll try to do their best not to laugh in your face. Appearance is important. The airlines like to think that first class/business class is special and don't want riff-raff sitting there unless they pay for a ticket.

And, singles have an easier time. Sometimes, as was mentioned, they'll move a single up just to sit a couple together. (Everyone is happy.) (Here, singles do not mean unmarried; just traveling alone.)

While the above is true, it also means every one of those "guidelines" gets broken. I've seen airline employees get upgraded over paying passengers, good looking women flirt their way into first class, (and good looking men), relatives of flight crew, celebrities who pay for coach but get moved, and so on.

The rarest is a couple who pay the cheapest fare possible and say "we'd like an upgrade so can sleep better." They are at the bottom of the list.

One last thing, every time I've gone after an upgrade, I get asked the same question: "Why should we give you an upgrade?" What they're really asking is "how is this beneficial to the airline?"

I'll second what Frank II says about appearance. We fly standby since my husband works for an airline, and we have a dress code we have to follow when we fly, in case there are only seats in business or first class. No jeans, no t-shirts, no open-toed shoes, no sneakers, nothing torn or dirty, no baseball hats. The first time we got upgraded to first class on a domestic flight, the ticket agent actually leaned out over the counter to look at my shoes.

And always, always be nice to the gate agents. They can put you on the flight or not.

Thanks, I forgot attitude. How you approach can make a difference.

I was once on a connecting flight to Paris via Chicago. I happened to have a small box of chocolates with me. The gate agent in Chicago saw the chocolates and I, of course, asked if she would like some. She took a piece and I then said, "Should you need someone to volunteer to be upgraded, I'd be more than happy to relieve you of the burden of searching for someone." She laughed, said First Class and Business were full, however should could block the seat next to me so that no one sat there. She did and I had extra room to stretch out.

On the plane, I offered chocolate to the flight attendants. For some reason, when I got off in Paris, my carry-on had a lot of little bottles of alcohol (wine, cognac, brandy, etc) to help me enjoy my visit to the City of Lights.

My wife and I were flying from Seattle to Frankfurt in late March. They moved the back group in the line as it was getting pretty long at check-in. We were at the front talking with the person controlling who goes next. She said they were overbooked in coach and offering upgrades to business class for $500/pp. We originally said no, but were both getting over colds and thought that it would be worth it. So we told her yes. She got another employee to escort us to the (empty) business class line. They upgraded us and sent us off to their business lounge to wait until our flight was ready.
The best $1000 we spent on that trip! We both arrived well-rested and fed.
So upgrades can happen at the airport - but it sounds like they're rare. And we had one of the lowest classes of ticket when we booked (~$700/pp from Seattle to Porto, Portugal, via Frankfurt).