4 Easy Ways to Upgrade Into First Class

First class is a fun way to fly. You get a much more comfortable seat, free drinks, and a better meal on flights with a meal service. Many travelers dream of getting an upgrade so they can have the first-class experience without such a hefty price tag.

There are a few easy, reliable ways to score a first-class seat. Here's what you can do to improve your chances of flying this way at a reasonable cost.

1. Pay with miles instead of cash

If you want to be sure you'll fly in first class, then you'll need to book it from the beginning. Upgrades aren't always available.

Luckily, there's a way to book first class without spending $1,000 or more. Instead of looking for cash tickets, book with airline miles. Expensive airfare tends to be one of the best ways to use airline miles because you get more value per mile. An economy ticket may cost $250 or 25,000 miles, whereas a first-class ticket may cost $1,000 or 50,000 miles.

The challenging part is earning enough miles, but you can accomplish that much faster with travel credit cards. There are airline cards that earn miles on all your purchases -- these work well if you're loyal to one airline. Another option is to get a travel card with transferable rewards that you can send to multiple airlines.

2. Book an economy ticket and see if you can buy an upgrade

Airlines will normally let you pay for an upgrade from economy to first class when there are seats available. How this works depends on the airline and the flight.

Sometimes the airline will charge a fixed price for an upgrade, such as $100. Or there could be a bidding system, where you let the airline know how much you're willing to pay for an upgrade. If the airline accepts your bid, then you'll get the upgrade.

It's typically much cheaper to buy an economy seat and upgrade it than to buy a first-class seat from the beginning. The tradeoff is that there are no guarantees an upgrade will be available.

3. Get an airline credit card and earn elite status

In addition to paid upgrades, airlines may also offer complimentary upgrades when there are seats available. Now, there's a lot of misinformation out there about getting a free upgrade. Dressing well probably isn't going to get you called to the front of the plane.

Airlines generally have upgrade lists. These lists are based on each passenger's status with the airline. Passengers with higher status take priority in the upgrade list.

For example, the Delta SkyMiles program has Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion status. If you have Diamond Medallion status, you'll be at or near the top of the list for complimentary upgrades. Platinum Medallion status would put you right below Diamond flyers, and so on.

It's much easier to earn elite status, and improve your chances of a free upgrade, with an airline credit card. American Airlines, Delta, and United all have credit cards that can help you earn status points in their loyalty programs.

4. Fly during less busy periods to increase your upgrade chances

Upgrade availability depends on how many seats are available in first class. That's the case for both paid and complimentary upgrades. If first class is sold out, you won't be able to upgrade.

If you're hoping to upgrade from economy to first class, it helps to fly during less busy travel periods. You could take a vacation in fall instead of summer, or push back your trip during a major holiday to a week later.

These aren't always realistic options. If your family is getting together for the holidays or you have kids who are only off from school for the summer, then you may be limited as far as when you can travel. But if it's possible, traveling in the offseason could help with getting upgraded -- and it's usually cheaper overall, too.

First class looks expensive, but it doesn't have to be. It's much cheaper if you pay with miles, upgrade an economy ticket, or get a complimentary upgrade before your flight. And while you can do this during peak travel times, it's easier if you also fly when planes aren't as packed.