Yes, it's possible to get free travel upgrades that will build the most comfort and value into your trip.For flights, it's wise to sign up for a frequent flyer account, check in early, and mention if its a special occasion like an anniversary, birthday, or honeymoon.Remember, timing is everythingand if you book with a discount online travel agency, youre at the bottom of the pecking order.Nobody wants to fly in 33B, or have a view of a dumpster from their hotel room, or hold luggage on their lap in a tiny rental car. Heres how to get the upgrades that will build the most comfort and value into your trip.Flights1. Upgrade when you check in for your flightIts always possible youll spot a deal when you book your flight, but youll likely do better if you upgrade at the airport.Janet Semenova, co-founder ofBoutique Travel Advisors,recommends this three-pronged approach: Sign up for a frequent flyer account, check in earlyright at the 24-hour mark online, or an hour earlier than you would normally at the deskand mention if its a special occasion like an anniversary, birthday, or honeymoon.Then, ask how much it would cost for an upgradedont ask for a free upgrade. Theres a chance theyll upgrade you for free. If not, you can decide if the price they offer is worth it to you.Generally, the longer the flight, the more value there is in an upgrade. Leslie Crowe, the chief people officer atTripActions, bought an upgrade on a flight between Frankfurt and San Francisco for $400. Full price was $12,000, she says.Local carriers outside the U.S. often offer low-cost upgrades, since their routes arent as highly trafficked, Crowe says.2. Bid on a better seatCurrently, about 50 airlines offer seat upgrade auctions, according to David Yeskel,The Cruise Guru.Never heard of these bids' Youll find them mainly withinternational carriers, so if you mostly fly within the U.S. youve likely never encountered them. Theyre also not offered on every flight.Hereshow it works. Once youve purchased your low-fare seat, you may get an email from your airline giving you the chance to bid for an upgrade. You can also check the airlines web site to see if you can bid.Youll be able to place a bid for a seat in economy plus, business class, or first class. The airline will likely set a minimum bidyou cant just bid a dollarand may tell you how strong your bid is.A few days before your flight, the airline will let you know if your bid was accepted. Your offer is binding, so youre committed to paying for your upgrade once you bid.How much should you bid' Crowe recommends bidding a little over the minimum. That way youre bidding just a bit more than most people.Look online to see how many seats are available, and what they cost. Yeskel recommends bidding between 30 and 40% of the difference between the cost of your original seat and the cost of your desired seat.3. Use points for your upgrades, not airfareIf you buy tickets withpointsyoure practically persona non grata. You might not even be allowed to pay for an upgrade, Semenova says.4. Timing is everythingYoure never going to get an upgrade if all the seats are full. Avoid peak times for business travelthats early morning on Mondays, and Thursday and Friday afternoons. Middays on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and weekends are better choices.You might be able to score upgrades over theholidaysif youre flying solo or as a couple. Thats because economy can be overbooked with families, and airlines might want to bump someone up into business class rather than offering vouchers for people to give up their seats, Semenova says.Early or late flights can have better upgrade options. If waking up in the middle of the night to get to the airport isnt your thing, stay near the airport the night before. Spending $100 at an airport hotel might be worth it to get a business-class seat, Crowe points out.Hotels5. Follow your desired hotels and cities on social mediaCrowe says that around three months out, hotels start looking at their inventory and posting deals on Instagram and other social media if rooms arent selling fast enough.6. Book directly with the hotelIf you book with a discount online travel agency, youre at the bottom of the pecking order. Youre less likely to get upgrades and more likely to get a lower-end room, like one near the elevator, supply closet, or construction.You can research prices with a discount online travel agency and then book through the hotel directly. If the hotels price is higher than what you find online, call. Crowe says most hotels will price match, and you might even get a nicer room by booking directly with them.7. Register complaints politelySay: I booked a room in this category and I didnt realize it would have a view of the parking lot. Is there any other room in this category that might be available' Not: I hate my room.Rental Cars8. Book and keep lookingYou can cancel most rental car reservations at the last minute. So, go ahead and book the best deal you can find, then check again every week or so before your trip to see if you can find a better price or a better car. I often get a much nicer car this way, Crowe says.SEE ALSO:15 secrets airports don't want travelers to knowJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Why Tesla's Model X was the first SUV to receive a perfect crash-test rating
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