| Flying is a necessary evil if you want to get | | | | upgrade? Simple. You ask for it. On domestic |
| from one place to another. The level of evil | | | | flights, your chances depend on the flight. |
| you must submit to, however, is directly | | | | Is it late at night, a full plane and so on? |
| proportional to the class of seating you | | | | In general, you can expect to pull it off |
| have. First class seating on a long flight is | | | | maybe 20 percent of the time. That 20 |
| simply heaven on earth. | | | | percent, however, will be well worth your |
| | | | effort. |
| First class. Ah…. People feeding you | | | | |
| grapes and fanning you with big palm leaves. | | | | On international flights, the stakes are |
| Okay, maybe not. Still first class is where | | | | higher. You are going to sit on a plane for 8 |
| you find seats made for the human body and | | | | to 25 hours depending on where you are going. |
| stewardesses that don't act like French | | | | The difference between sitting with the heard |
| waiters. On a long flight, first class is | | | | or riding in first class is extreme. Well, |
| where you want to be. | | | | you will be happy to learn it is easier to |
| | | | upgrade to first class. For some reason, |
| Make no mistake, flying these days is nearly | | | | first class is rarely filled unless it is a |
| as calming as a trip to the dentist. You | | | | major city to major city flight such as New |
| don't want to go, but you know there is no | | | | York to New York. Even then, you have a good |
| avoiding it. From long security checks to | | | | chance. |
| late takeoffs to outright flight | | | | |
| cancellations, it is enough to make anyone | | | | So, what are examples of such upgrades? Here |
| crabby. | | | | are a few I've pulled off. $75 to upgrade to |
| | | | first class on a flight from Paris to Los |
| As with many bad situations, there can be a | | | | Angeles. $56 for Bangkok to Los Angeles, |
| silver lining found in the current joke that | | | | which is a very long flight with a stop in |
| is known as the airline industry. What is it? | | | | Japan. $90 for San Francisco to Seoul, Korea. |
| The last minute upgrade. It is the stuff of | | | | $35 from Costa Rica to Houston. |
| legend and luxury. Pull it off and you will | | | | |
| become that annoying person at the party that | | | | Can you do this? Yes. Almost nobody asks for |
| just can't shut up as you tell friends over | | | | upgrades at the gate. The worst that can |
| and over how you flew back from some | | | | happen is they say no. The best is you are |
| destination in the lap of luxury. | | | | eating grapes in first class with a breeze |
| | | | from the palm leaves moving through you hair! |
| So, how exactly do you get a last minute | | | | |