Frequent flyer reveals two words she uses to get an upgrade
A frequent flyer who has never paid money for an upgrade has revealed the two words she uses to score a better seat by using her mileage points.
Airlines will release upper class seats closer to the flight to be purchased with frequent flyer miles or points.
British novelist Tilly Bagshawe said to ensure an airline releases unsold upper class seats for upgraders she utters the words "revenue management".
"Say to the agent: 'Have revenue management released any first-class seats for miles upgrades yet?’" Ms Bagshawe told Bloomberg.
"When they say no, ask them to check or just be put through to revenue management so you can ask when they will release some, as well as how many seats are left."
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The author said by using this technique, she has had an almost 100 per cent success rate.
She said often just by asking, the reservation management will release a first-class seat to upgrade to on points.
"The reason is that revenue management’s job is to make sure a flight is profitable, so they’re the ones telling [reservation agents] what they can say; they’re like Flying Club’s boss," Ms Bagshawe said.
But while the trick works majority of the time for Ms Bagshawe as she flies about 160,000km a year, aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt said others might be unlucky.
“Asking a reservations agent to check with the airline’s Revenue Management department will probably result in the agent muting her line while she laughs at the request,” he told Business Insider.
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