HOW TO GET MOVED TO FIRST CLASS

One of the most common questions asked of a ticket agent is, "Do you have first class on this Flight?" Of course the people who want first class are those that have the cheapest fare. Here are some things you probably don’t know about first class: 

Every airline uses buckets, or classes of Service. These buckets are in the form of letters. Each letter designates a bucket of service, and there are a limited number of seats in each bucket. Here are a few examples of various buckets:

"A" class of service – the highest fare (full fare) first class ticket

"Y" class of service – the highest fare (full fare) coach class ticket

Other buckets of service include seats reserved for those that can be upgraded to first class with their airline frequent flyer miles, people who want to pay for upgrades to first class, or those who have reached an elite status with the airline because of very frequent travel. So how do you get "bumped" to first class? First you must be nice to the ticket agent. Your fate is pretty much in their hands. If you are rude to them then you won’t get very much help. Also keep in mind that the agent can deny you boarding if you say something they don't like. It is an agent’s discretion whether or not they allow you to board the plane. If the agent locks your reservation and denies you boarding, you can be sure that you will not be on a plane that day. Planes do go out with empty first class seats.
This is because some passengers don’t ask to sit in first class. Always ask if there are any seats in first class and if you can be upgraded as a courtesy. Avoid making jokes or saying things like "I deserve to sit in first class because the flight on the way here was terrible."

Don't stop looking for a first class seat just because an agent doesn’t give you first class. You have other options. When passengers do not get into first class because of unwilling ticket agents or busy gate agents they may get in first class once they ask a flight attendant. Don’t bother waiting until everyone sits down to ask the flight attendant. As soon as you step into the plane ask if there are any open seats in first class and ask if it would be possible to sit there after the plane has taken off. Always say that you would like to sit there after the plane has taken off. The reason for this is simple. The flight attendants, although they appear to just be standing at the aircraft door greeting you, are really doing other things behind the scenes. Every flight needs to be sequenced. The flight attendant must make sure that everyone who is supposed to be on the plane is sitting on the plane in their correct seats. Telling them that you are willing to sit in first
class after the plane has taken off gives them the opportunity to say yes more willingly. If the flight attendant asks what seat you are in then "you've got it". They will get you after the plane has taken off. You will occasionally find a flight attendant that won’t be so easy so there is another alternative. The airline is likely to do much more for a dissatisfied customer. If you are not satisfied with something then nicely tell someone. Ask if it is possible to sit in first class and you will be surprised what the airline will do to make you happy. Other things you can do is telling the agent or the flight attendant that this is your first time flying or that you are not feeling very good (once the plane has taken off). Here are some other ways to get into first class. If there is room in first class but no room in coach, and you have checked in late, then you will be upgraded to first class unknowingly. I’ve seen plenty of people who know about this.
These people see that everyone has boarded before they check in at the gate. The gate agent tells them there are no seats left in coach but there are seats in first class. This doesn’t work every time, however, because sometimes both coach and first class are full and you end up getting stuck at the airport.