Dress Great for Upgrades

Dress the Part

Dress nicely. If you look like you fit in with the upper crust, then those at reception are more likely to notice you and bump you up with the people who paid good money for those seats or that plush hotel room. You don't need to go overboard, however, so leave the tuxedo at home. A pair of smart trousers, a button-down shirt, polished shoes, and a jacket of some description should do the trick. If you can, carry a briefcase too. Check-in staff love to upgrade businessmen.

Invoke an Occasion

Inform the staff at reception that you're celebrating a special occasion, and appeal to their better natures. Those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, honeymoons and pregnancies often benefit from free upgrades without even asking, usually because check-in staff want to make their experience all the more enjoyable. Check-in staff realize that these times of joy are close to their customers' hearts, meaning they'll treasure the company even more and tell their friends and family about how wonderfully they were treated.

Even if you aren't celebrating a special occasion, invent one. They'll never know the difference, so what's the harm in trying? Avoid claiming that it's your birthday, however, as it will be on your passport, which will be in the hands of the check-in staff.

Be Personable

When you book directly with an airline, a hotel or any other company, you save them the commission costs they'd otherwise need to pay to a travel agent or third party for securing your business. Hopefully, they'll return the favor in the form an upgrade, or at least by offering you the best deal they possibly can on a cheap first-class seat or executive rooms. What's more, by dealing directly with an airline or hotel, they get to know you, you get to know them and everybody's happy.

When it comes to getting that first-class seat, it helps if you join the airline's frequent flyer program; it's free, and every time you travel with the company you'll be awarded points. Incentives like these help to build customer loyalty, a valuable factor to remind reception staff of when you're seeking an upgrade. Hotels offer similar programs, and you'll be considered first when the time comes to issue upgrades. When it comes to an airport or a hotel reception packed with nasty spring-breakers or overworked businessmen on a weekend convention, use this loyalty as leverage; stress to the check-in staff that you love the airline/hotel, fly/visit often and would really appreciate that upgrade. Dealing directly doesn't only mean booking directly through the company, however; it also means being vocal and direct regarding what it is that you want. If you know you want that room upgrade a week before you check in, ringing beforehand and requesting it could result in a note on your file indicating that you're eligible. If you've got inside knowledge of the hotel and know what room it is you want, then say so; this informs check-in that you've been to the hotel before and that you are a frequent customer. Similarly, if you've had a particularly bad experience with the company, you could make it clear to the check-in staff that you would be more than happy to forget about the whole experience if you were compensated in some way. They'll invariably know how customers love to talk -- particularly about bad experiences -- and offer you some kind of compensation in exchange for your silence.