Are you starting to travel more and more for business?
To company events, conventions and seminars?
If so..this post is for YOU!
I have a bunch of buddies that I always joke with on Facebook about our flight upgrades.
We all wait to see if we get one before we fly and then gloat about our wine or bloody marys that we will be enjoying while we spread out in our big leather seats as the peasants who fly in coach walk by and wonder if by chance we are a celebrity!
Its just a little fun thing we do as to tell you the truth…. we have gotten SPOILED and 90% of the time fly first class.
So how do you get the upgrades???
Let me tell you.
And perhaps you may not hear me on this one as you are still into “saving money” and not realizing all there is to be gained by NOT “saving money” sometimes.
Here’s the trick..and this ONLY works if you fly quite a bit…
So you newer jet setters will need to work up 🙂
Ok…
First…
Pick an airline that you plan on flying with.
Make this choice depending on your home airport and where you fly to most of the time.
If you live near a HUB…choose the airline that dominates your airport.
So for example…Dallas would American…
Cleveland or Newark would be United.
Philly or Charlotte…US Air.
So once you pick your airline…find out if they have any partner airlines.
Like for me…
I fly United most often and they are partners with US Air (for now until US Air merges with American soon.)
So I ONLY fly United or US AIR even though sometimes a flight on Delta or another airline may be cheaper.
Your goal is to hit 25,000 miles or more for the year and you become ELITE.
When you do you get ALL kinds of perks.
Priority check in (think NO LINES)
Sometimes a priority security line (shorter line by far)
FREE BAGGAGE…Yup..most yokels are saving money on their ticket and then paying for baggage!!!
Priority boarding,,,you get on the plane before most of the people meaning no overhead bin hassle.
Extra leg room…often you get the best seats in coach…up front with room to spread out.
And then…the coveted prize…
FREE UPGRADES to first class where you get cocktails and fresh baked cookies and even a meal!
The more miles you accumulate the more of a chance you have of getting the upgrade.
And let me tell you…
I loves me a glass o vino while I am all cozy watching the masses schlep by on their way to seat 34b which is airplane purgatory!
So that’s it.
Pick one airline…stick to it.
Rack up all the miles you can and sit back and enjoy the perks.
At some point you start to realize that time and comfort is more valuable than saving a few bucks flying Spirit or some other “value” airline that makes you pay money to talk to a human!
Know what I mean?
Next time we talk travel lets get into airline lounges and international flights.
Now THAT’S where you live the high life baby!
Hope to see you at 30,000 feet sometime.
We’ll clink champagne glasses!
Now Diane….what you say here is true. We primarily fly Alaska Airlines, which partners with American and can get to most of the World’s destinations. I value my MVP membership so highly that I’ve even gone on boondoggles at the last moment to make sure I accumulate my miles before year’s end so as not to lose my status. I think out of the last 14 years of really flying, we’ve always has some for of status, and it pays for itself multiple times over.
I can’t wait to read the Airplane lounge post…its such a better way to fly if you’re a frequent traveler!
VaNessa