How to Get First-Class Coach Flight Privileges
First and business class plane tickets have many benefits. You get on the plane before anyone else, guaranteed room for carry-on luggage, the most legroom (and sometimes a flat seat!). You get free drinks and food, which is a cut above what is served to passengers on other aircraft cabins.
Just because you’re a flight coach doesn’t mean you can’t get some of these premium benefits. Here are a few ways you can potentially improve this basic salon.
Say hi
When you board the plane, be sure to say hello to the crew. After all, they are standing in the doorway to greet you, so saying hello is a common, polite, human affair. This little bit of kindness doesn’t necessarily go unnoticed.
According to FlyerTalk columnist and flight attendant Amanda Pleva , one of the worst parts of her job is ignoring passengers in the doorway when boarding. She says that a little kindness when boarding is not overlooked and can sometimes lead to a slight increase in your flying experience.
“Maybe it’s a free drink or extra snacks , maybe we’ll pat you on the shoulder and put you in an empty lane,” she says.
You may need to behave well without expecting free benefits, but there is one place on the plane where being good can take precedence.
Be flexible
The same can be said for volunteers when they ask someone to change places so the child can sit with their parent. This move can often bring you several bonus perks. I even saw a guy get into first grade once for giving up his coveted aisle seat – good exercise is often worth at least one or two free cocktails.
Help the flight crew make the take off more smoothly. If you want to check your carry-on baggage at the gate, you will sometimes end up in the first boarding group on some airlines.
Book Smart
When booking your flight, do not purchase a Basic Economy ticket. Most airline apps and websites allow you to swap as many seats as you like (assuming you’re not economy class), and some while you’re sitting at the gate before boarding.
Watch out for those empty rows and seats. On a recent trip to Paris, my boyfriend and I booked aisle seats in empty rows next to each other. Dreamed that we would both score empty rows on our 13-hour flight. I’ve changed seats in the Delta app a million times, with the last change taking place seconds before boarding.
In fact, I had a free row, and my boyfriend shared the row with another person (and an empty seat in the middle). This meant we could take turns to bed – a privilege I especially love on international first class flights. I may have slept better on this flight than when I flew in real first class, simply because there was no constant food / drink that kept me awake.
Consider Economy Plus
I personally don’t find economy class seats that cost the extra money due to the size of the seat, but section seating offers several other perks.
The biggest bonus, in my opinion, is that you can board the plane in an earlier group and sit in front of the plane – one of the benefits of flying first class. This means that you will definitely have room for your suitcase, and you can get off the plane quickly enough to establish a connection.
Depending on the airline, Economy Plus seats may also have some other privileges, such as free alcoholic drinks and improved snacks.
Sign up for frequent flyer programs
Even if you don’t think you are going to fly very often this year, make sure you sign up for this airline’s frequent flyer program. The best airline perks are always given to those who fly frequently, and getting this coveted status may not be as difficult as you might think.
One single flight (albeit first class) from San Francisco to Australia last year gave me enough miles to qualify for gold status on American flights for 2019. I got Platinum on Delta flights in 2018 and sent an email to Alaska Airlines asking them to match it, they did and now I fly 75k in Alaska in 2019 (its top tier). I fly a lot. If you are flying on a small amount, try to pick one airline so you can earn “status” with it. If your trip is divided into several people, see if one of your status matches the other.
Alaska is one of the few airlines that will match your status with another airline if you just send them an email. Other airlines, such as United and American, offer status match programs where you can ask for a match, and if accepted, you need to complete a mission in which you fly a certain number of miles in a short period of time in order to earn it. For example, United will qualify for my Delta Platinum status and give me Premier Platinum, but I will need to fly 18,000 miles on United in 90 days.
Frequent flyers can board the plane in an earlier group (guaranteed overhead space for your belongings!) And often get a pass to get free drink coupons to use in flight.
The best part: Frequent flyers can get an upgrade to True First Class for free.