You know the look-that one of haughty derision shot your way as you board a plane and are forced to do a walk of shame past the first class passengers as they suck down champagne and warm nuts while you're left to vie for the last overhead space and a free armrest in coach.


You envy them, but you'd never pay the outrageous price to sit in a slightly bigger seat. However, what you may not know is that many of those people in first class snagged their seats for less money than you paid for your ticket in steerage. In fact, there are many ways—some obvious, several not—to fly first class without paying for it, and here are a few of the best:

1) Elite status: The best way to get all the free first-class flights your little heart desires is to earn elite status on your airline of choice. U.S. airlines are extremely generous (at least in comparison to foreign carriers) when it comes to free upgrades to first class for their most valued customers, the elite fliers. Continental/United, Delta, Alaska and U.S. Airways all offer complimentary domestic, space-available upgrades to all levels of elite fliers. American Airlines offers unlimited domestic upgrades to their top-tier fliers. Once you hit 25,000 elite miles earned within a calendar year through flights, you start at the lowest level of elite status and work your way up at 50,000/75,000/100,000/125,000 levels depending on the airline. The higher the level of your elite status, the more likely you are to get an upgrade. This means you can buy a dirt cheap coach ticket and end up with a first class seat. As a Delta Diamond, this happens to me more often than not and I even get upgraded 6 days before most of my flights!


If you're thinking "I don't fly enough to get elite status," you're missing the boat. Almost every airline has a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn elite qualifying miles. In my opinion, Delta makes it the easiest—you can get Silver elite status until 2013 simply by transferring 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to your Delta account. No flying necessary! You can find out more about the promotion here. US airways lets you buy status outright.

And fear not. Even if you're upgraded, airlines treat you just like a paid first class passenger. In fact, flight attendants usually have no idea who is paid and who is upgraded. So don't think airline status is exclusive - anyone can get it if you are savvy enough!

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2) Using Frequent Flier Miles or Credit Card Points: Most airlines allow you to use miles to upgrade to first class. Within the past couple years it has gotten more expensive, however. Many airlines require you to purchase a more expensive fare class (for instance regular economy instead of discounted economy) and charge co-pays plus upgrade fees and taxes, but it can still save you a ton of money versus buying a first class fare outright.

3) Buy a Y-Up fare: This one is a little more technical, but still easy to accomplish. Y-Up fares are deeply discounted first class fares available within the U.S. and Canada that are booked in the system as coach fares but automatically upgrade to first class. These allow corporate travelers who are forbidden to buy first class tickets the ability to buy "coach" and then they automatically get seated in first. These fares are hard to search for online, so usually calling the airline is best. Most reservation agents should know the term and be able to help you. One caveat, these are not the same price as your discounted coach fares, but rather they are usually more in the price range of a full coach fare-though that's still a lot less than a first class ticket in most cases.


4) Just Ask: One of my favorite mottos when it comes to miles and points is, "it never hurts to ask." You'd be surprised at how empowered check-in agents and gate agents are when it comes to re-assigning passengers. I recommend being extremely friendly and appreciative. Frontline employees deal with lunatics and generally ungrateful people all day, so if you can quickly and nicely ask them about getting an upgrade, you might be surprised at what could happen. While it's a long shot, the only thing you have to lose is a little bit of dignity. This method works well for honeymooners or good looking people who know how to flirt. That said, if they say no, respect it and try again next time!

5) Taking the Bump: Most airlines oversell flights so they can maximize their profit. They know people will always miss their flights for a variety of reasons, so they oversell to accommodate how many people they think will miss their flight and fill every seat by the time the plane pushes back from the gate. However, things don't always go as planned, and often there more passengers than there are seats. In this case the airlines usually ask for volunteers to take a later flight. The thing you should know is that you have bargaining power when you are in this situation, especially if they don't have enough volunteers. Not only can you get a voucher for a future flight (and you can negotiate the value of that voucher up), but you can also receive confirmed first class seats on your next flight. Agents are often stressed out trying to get the plane out on time, so if you are savvy and make their lives easier, they will often give you first class, but only if you ask.


6) Broken Seat: I've been on several packed flights where passengers had broken coach seats and were reassigned to business or first since they were the only seats left. This is luck of the draw, though. Don't break your seat!

7) Buy An Upgrade: An empty seat in first class is lost revenue to an airline. Many will sell deeply discounted upgrades up until departure. Call the airline after you book your flight to check the cost and inquire when you check in at the airport - it may be a lot less expensive than you expected.


8) Work For an Airline or Befriend Someone Who Does: Airline employees are generally underpaid and overworked. One of their key perks is free travel for family and friends. The specifics are different for each airline, and buddy passes can be a blessing and a curse (if flights are oversold, buddy pass riders are usually last on the priority list for a seat), however most airlines will give business or first class seats to these passengers if they are available.

Photo remixed from Robert Spriggs/Shutterstock.

The Points Guy is an airline miles and reward points expert who writes about the latest news, deals, and tips for getting the most out of your points on his blog, thepointsguy.com. You can follow him on Twitter @thepointsguy, and if you have a question, comment below and he'll do his best to respond or create a future post on the subject.