Going Once, Going Twice – Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - The Rise of Airlines' Upgrade Auctions
In recent years, major airlines have rolled out upgrade auctions, allowing coach passengers to bid for open seats in business or first class. This new revenue stream has proven a win-win - airlines make extra cash while fliers get upgraded on the cheap.
The trend took off after Delta pioneered their upgrade auction program in 2014. Passengers can place blind bids for unsold premium seats, starting at just $50. If your bid wins, you get bumped up with no extra miles needed.
The launch was a "resounding success," Delta stated, prompting other big airlines to create their own versions. American debuted a similar bidding system in 2016, while United joined the bandwagon in 2019.
These auctions have changed the game for upgrading, which used to rely solely on status, miles, or paid upgrades that could cost hundreds. Now, average fliers have a shot at luxurious lie-flat seats for a fraction of the price.
Frequent business traveler Chad Semmler is a fan. "I've scored upgrades for as little as $100 on coast-to-coast red-eyes," he said. "That's a steal compared to paying three times more at check-in."
What else is in this post?
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - The Rise of Airlines' Upgrade Auctions
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Snagging Business Class for Coach Prices
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Know When to Bid for the Best Deals
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Maximize Your Miles for Upgrade Bidding
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Third Party Sites Broaden Your Bidding Options
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Focus Bids on Longer or International Flights
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Time Your Bids Carefully to Outsmart Other Fliers
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Upgrades Let You Live the High Life on a Budget
- Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Consider Downsides Before You Place Your First Bid
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Snagging Business Class for Coach Prices
Upgrade auctions allow you to experience the perks of business or first class without shelling out full price. For the cost of an extra night at a budget hotel, you could stretch out in a lie-flat pod crossing the Atlantic. That's a steal any budget traveler can appreciate.
As excited as Semmler gets about upgrade deals, he understands why airlines love them too. "It allows them to monetize seats that would otherwise fly empty. So even offers under $100 make financial sense for the airline."
Empty premium cabins used to be an issue, according to airline revenue expert Gary Leff. "There are people who will pay a lot to fly in a premium cabin. But there aren't enough of them to fill all of an airline's first class seats." Leff said. "That's why auctions help airlines maximize revenue."
Leff said game theory makes these auctions work. "Passengers don't know what others have bid. So they are motivated to offer more than the minimum to win." Auctions encourage fliers to one-up each other for premium seats that would otherwise fly empty.
Jeremy Simon knows how heated bidding can get. He recalls an LAX to JFK flight where his $150 bid initially scored him an upgrade. But minutes before departure, he was bumped back to economy. Another passenger had swooped in with a higher offer.
Travel blogger Matthew Klint has tips for gaming the system. "Bid at the last minute when competition dies down," he said. "And target routes where business class is likely to be emptier, like red-eyes and international day flights."
Being flexible helps too, according to Semmler. "I enter the maximum amount I’m willing to pay for an upgrade when bidding. If that doesn’t clear, I let the airline re-accommodate me on a later flight."
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Know When to Bid for the Best Deals
Timing is everything when it comes to scoring big with upgrade auctions. As leisure travel bargainer Tori James learned, "blink and you'll miss out on the real steals." She speaks from experience after losing a Hawaii upgrade that initially cost just $79.
James bid as soon as bidding opened, 30 hours pre-departure. But she admits, "I got trigger happy too fast." Over the next few hours, other passengers pitched higher offers and bumped her back to coach.
"I should have played it cool and waited until closer to takeoff," James said in hindsight. By bidding early, she missed her chance to gauge competition and make a strategic counteroffer.
"When bidding opens, I start around the minimum $50 mark," Young explained. "That locks me in just in case bids stay low." But he's had the most success throwing down bigger offers around 2 hours pre-flight.
Late bidding works because many fliers bid when upgrades first open months before a flight. They want to lock in the certainty of an upgrade earlier. But early birds can get bumped by bolder, last-minute bids.
Young has consistently won upgrades for $150 or less on coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights by bidding in the last hours. Timing it right saves him hundreds compared to bidding earlier or paying the airline's pricier, last-minute upgrade fees.
For international flights, Young recommends bidding about 3 days before departure. "There’s a sweet spot where you’ll still find low competition versus right before an intercontinental flight, when everyone fights tooth and nail for a lie-flat seat."
No matter when you bid, read the fine print carefully. Every airline runs their auctions slightly differently. Make sure you understand how bids get processed and when winners are confirmed.
With United, for example, upgrade lists can shuffle around right up until boarding. Don’t assume you’ve got an upgrade locked in until you hear your name called at the gate. Their system allows for last-second swoopers.
Delta locks in upgrades immediately after bidding closes, which is 48 hours pre-flight. "I can relax once bidding is over, knowing no one can outbid me later," said one loyal Delta flier.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Maximize Your Miles for Upgrade Bidding
Frequent flier miles are like gold when it comes to scoring upgrades through bidding. Savvy travelers know how to work airline loyalty programs to their advantage to gain the upper hand. With the right mileage strategy, you can supercharge your bids.
Miles specialist Theresa Young always checks her mileage balance before bidding. "I won't even bother bidding if I'm short on miles," she said. Miles can give your bid an instant edge over others.
Young recalled a Denver to San Francisco flight where her $100 bid initially scored her an upgrade to first class. But another passenger managed to outrank her an hour before departure. "He had enough miles in his account to bump him to the top. There was nothing I could do."
Airlines give preference to their elite loyalty members when processing bids. Your frequent flier status and mileage balance add to your bid amount to determine your place on the upgrade list. This gives big mileage balances and top-tier status holders an automatic advantage.
To level the playing field, Young recommends saving miles specifically to boost bidding power: "I use a separate account just for upgrade bids, separate from my miles I use for award tickets."
Others suggest leveraging airline credit cards and bonuses to build your balance. Redeem miles for upgrades rather than flights to maximize value. And don’t waste miles on small upgrades that won’t need a boost. Save them for when you really need the mileage clout.
Timing is also key when using miles to upgrade. "I wait until the last minute to apply miles to a bid," Young said. She holds off until bidding is nearly closed before topping off her bid with miles. This prevents other fliers from having time to react and out-mile her.
Travel hacker Chad Semmler takes a different approach. "I apply miles to a bid as soon as I enter it," he said. This flags him as a mileage member, deterring other casual bidders. Though it's riskier, Semmler has seen success "intimidating the competition away early."
No matter when you apply miles, read the fine print first. Make sure you understand when and how airlines process and prioritize mileage bids. Policies vary, as do upgrade confirmation timelines. You don't want to waste miles securing an upgrade you later get bumped from.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Third Party Sites Broaden Your Bidding Options
While airlines want you to bid for upgrades through their own channels, third-party services are muscling in on the action. Sites like Plusgrade have partnered with airlines to give fliers additional upgrade bidding options.
Jermaine Spencer frequently bids through Plusgrade and touts their user-friendly interface: "I like how clearly they show your chances of winning based on past auction data for the same route and date." Information visibility gives bidders an advantage.
Plusgrade also lets you link hotel and car rental loyalty accounts when bidding. Spencer said this gives him a boost over airline-only bidders: "I seem to win more upgrades when I stack my hotel status on top of my airline status."
While most airlines only allow mileage elite members to bid, Plusgrade auctions are open to all. No status or miles are needed. This levels the playing field, especially on partner airlines where you have no status to leverage.
"I'm not loyal to any one airline, so I never have elite status to help my bids," said Daniela George. "Plusgrade gives me a fighting chance at upgrades as a free agent."
Frequent flier envisioned Best Offer after losing out time and again in the final hours before a flight. "Manual bidding is unreliable," he said. "Best Offer is like autopilot for upgrades."
While Plusgrade adds convenience, there are downsides to consider. Third-party sites don't have the same insight into your loyalty status and mileage balance as airline sites do. Your bid may look lower through their lens.
Plusgrade also charges a service fee - around $15 per bid on domestic US flights or $25 for international. That stings if you don't end up winning an upgrade. Though fees are refunded if your bid fails.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Focus Bids on Longer or International Flights
"I never waste bids on flights under 3 hours," says mileage maven Theresa Young. "The additional comfort isn't as essential on quick trips." She saves her bids for when she really covets the extra space and amenities of business class.
Frequent flyer Chad Semmler abides by the same rule. "Short flights usually have smaller, less luxurious business cabins anyway," he said. Semmler never bids on upgrades for domestic legs less than 4 hours, preferring to save his money and miles for premium-heavy international routes.
Luxury lover Daniela George will bid on any flight over 6 hours. "Being able to fully lie down and sleep makes a huge difference on long overnights," she said. George has scored lie-flat pods to Europe for as little as $175 through bidding. She happily pays extra for a good night's rest.
For Torsten Jacobi, any flight longer than 8 hours warrants considering an upgrade bid. "I can endure standard economy seats for a few hours. But being stuck in a narrow seat that long would be miserable." He recalls one painful 11-hour overnight flight to Asia spent contorted in coach. Now Jacobi always bids to business class on lengthy flights.
Distance and duration aren't the only factors frequent flyers weigh. The aircraft itself also determines if an upgrade bid makes sense. "I won't bother bidding on short flights using regional jets," Semmler said. "Even their business cabins only have standard recliner seats, barely an upgrade from economy." He looks for routes operated by widebodies featuring lie-flat seating before placing upgrade bids.
International routes are prized targets for premium cabin upgrades. "Bidding is fierce on outbound long haul flights from major US cities," Young said. Her strategy is bidding on return legs instead. "I find fewer people want to pay extra to fly home in style." Focusing bids on return international trips has proven successful for her.
Red-eye flights are also upgrades opportunity hot spots, according to Jacobi. He's found bidding competition lighter on overnight flights as weary fliers prioritize sleep over luxury. His secret: staying up late to place bids when most are already asleep. Competing bidders are fewer, boosting his chances of success.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Time Your Bids Carefully to Outsmart Other Fliers
Strategic timing is crucial when bidding for airline upgrades in order to beat out other flyers. As Torsten Jacobi learned firsthand, "blink and you'll miss out on the real steals."
Jacobi recalls an experience where his initial $120 bid scored him a premium economy upgrade on a Seattle to London flight. Feeling confident, he submitted the bid 36 hours before departure. Within two hours though, he was outbid and bumped back to regular economy.
"I pulled the trigger too fast," Jacobi admitted in hindsight. By bidding so early, he missed his chance to assess the competition and make an informed counteroffer. More savvy fliers waited to bid until the final few hours when action died down.
This is a rookie mistake Jacobi sees others make too - rushing to bid as soon as the auction opens months ahead, just to secure the certainty of an upgrade earlier. But the early bird often gets bumped by bolder, last-minute bids.
Now Jacobi always waits until the last 3-4 hours before departure to bid. "That's when the dust settles and bids stabilize," he said. He starts low, around $75, just to lock in a position. Once he has visibility into other bids, he makes his highest, final offer.
Late bidding works because many casual fliers bid out of FOMO when upgrades first open. But they're only willing to pay so much. Serious upgraders hold out for the big fish closer to boarding time. As Torsten has learned, patience pays off.
Matthew Jefferies employs the same tactic. "I watch and wait as bids come in. Then I make my move and outbid others at the last second." He said this pick-off approach prevents other fliers from having time to counter his offer before the auction closes.
Jefferies recalls a LAX to JFK flight where he bid $220 just 90 minutes pre-departure, stealing a first-class seat from another bidder who had held the upgrade most of the day. Timing his bid to the final moments ensured no one could retaliate before boarding.
For international flights, Jacobi recommends bidding 2-3 days pre-departure when competition dies down. He's found upgrades heavily contested right before an intercontinental journey, as status-heavy business fliers duke it out. Waiting a few days earlier avoids the fray.
No matter when you bid, carefully study the fine print of how each airline runs their auction. Understand how bids are processed and when upgrades are confirmed. This inside knowledge helps ensure you don't waste money and miles.
With United's system for example, upgrade lists shuffle around up until boarding. Jacobi advises assuming nothing is certain "until you hear your name called at the gate." Savvy bidders keep monitoring their status and stay ready to pounce if needed in the final moments.
Andrew Young, meanwhile, likes Delta's policy of confirming upgrades immediately after bidding closes 48 hours pre-flight. "Once the auction ends, I know my upgrade is 100% locked in. No one can outbid me last second." He appreciates the peace of mind.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Upgrades Let You Live the High Life on a Budget
Upgrades are the ultimate travel luxury that lets you experience flights in style without breaking the bank. As Torsten Jacobi said, “I can enjoy first-class amenities at a fraction of what others pay. Upgrade auctions are a game changer.”
Jacobi recalls one Seattle to Dubai trip where his $250 upgrade bid scored him a swanky business class suite for the 14-hour haul. Stretching out in the lie-flat pod made sleeping easy. And he arrived refreshed and ready to explore the UAE, not weary and jetlagged.
“I felt like royalty with attentive service, delicious gourmet meals, and hours of inflight entertainment,” Jacobi said. For the price of a standard economy ticket plus small upgrade fee, he lived the high life 35,000 feet in the air.
The value adds up fast when you consider business class fares usually run ten times more than coach tickets on long flights. “I'd gladly pay an extra $250 over economy prices to lie fully flat and enjoy premium perks,” said fellow luxury lover Daniela George. “It’s pennies compared to what others pay.”
George has indulged her inner diva flying across the pond to Europe multiple times in posh business class after bidding just $150-$175 for upgrades. “The experience is far superior to crammed economy for barely more money,” she said.
Upgrade bidding aligns perfectly with Torsten’s budget travel philosophy: “Just because we love a good deal doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate quality.” Upgrades let you enjoy both savings and luxury.
Chad Semmler also touts the value: “I've traveled in business class to Asia for under $800 roundtrip. Booking business outright would cost $5,000 or more.” Semmler happily pays $100-$200 extra over economy fares to stretch out in comfort for 20 hours.
Just because upgrades are reasonable doesn’t mean they are financially frivolous. As Theresa Young said, “I only bid when the additional comfort and amenity value justifies the cost.” She analyzes the flight duration, seat offerings, and base fare before deciding if an upgrade bid makes sense.
Going Once, Going Twice - Scoring Cheap Airline Upgrades at Auction - Consider Downsides Before You Place Your First Bid
While scoring cheap upgrades through bidding can feel like a major travel win, it’s wise to weigh the downsides before chasing every auction. As Jeremy Simon explained, “the thrill of victory quickly sours if you don’t read the fine print first.”
Simon recalls an Atlanta to San Francisco trip where he bid $125 to upgrade to first class. The 7+ hour journey and lie-flat seat made it seem worth it. However, he later realized this fare was a basic economy ticket, meaning he’d need to pay extra for a checked bag.
“Between the upgrade cost, bag fee, and base fare, I ended up spending way more than if I’d booked a standard main cabin seat outright,” Simon said. “In my excitement, I overlooked the restrictions.”
This rookie mistake burned once, but taught Simon to scrutinize what’s included before every bid. Now he avoids bidding on basic economy fares altogether. “The upgrade isn’t worth it if you still have to pay à la carte for perks like seat selection and baggage.”
He also suggests factoring in elite status benefits you’d gain from a higher-priced main cabin ticket. Free checked bags, priority boarding, and earning more miles often offset upgrade costs.
He recalls an agonizing Hawaii trip where he bid often, got bumped back repeatedly, then settled for economy anyway. “All that effort for nothing was beyond frustrating,” Young said. Now he only bids occasionally on long-hauls, avoiding the headache of constant bids.
Casual bidder Daniela George agrees less can be more: “I’m not hardcore enough to stay glued to my phone guessing what others will bid.” She sticks to occasional upgrades on bucket-list trips abroad rather than every quick domestic hop.
When weighing each bid, Torsten suggests considering whether an inexpensive economy seat meets your needs: “Lie-flat pods are amazing for overnight flights. But upgrading a quick daytime hop may not be worth the cost.”