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- 1). Join the frequent-flyer program of the airline on which you will be traveling.
- 2). Book your flight via telephone or at a travel agency, and ask whether there are any special promotions featuring upgrades. There may upgrades for a very low price, or your travel agent might find that your membership in the frequent-flyer club (or some other membership you have, like AARP or AAA) makes you eligible for an instant upgrade.
- 3). Arrive early for your flight, if you don't manage to get an upgrade when making your reservation. Dress nicely, and ask just as nicely at the gate if there are any upgrades available on the flight --- seasoned flight attendants say dressing the part and being nice can sometimes get you what you are looking for. And if you are one of the first to ask, you may get lucky and score that business-class seat.
- 4). If simply asking gets you nowhere, ask the gate agent how much an upgrade would cost. If the business or first-class sections aren't full, the airline could charge less for an upgrade.
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